What are infinitive verbs

Infinitive

When the root form of the verb is preceded by the preposition ‘to’, the verb is known as an infinitive verb.

a) Sometimes, the infinitive form of a verb functions as a noun and can become the subject or object of a sentence.

For example: Piyush wants to come home.

You can see here that ‘to come’ (like a noun) is the object of the sentence, but at the same time it also has an object (like a verb), and this object is ‘home’. This is why an infinitive is called a verbal noun, or a noun that has the qualities of a verb.

b) Sometimes, the infinitive form of a verb functions as an adverb.

For example: Neha has gone to see the game.

(Here, the infinitive ‘to see’ is modifying the verb ‘gone’. Hence, it is acting as an adverb.)

For example:

The flowers of this plant are good to smell.

(Here, the infinitive ‘to smell’ is modifying the adjective ‘good’. Hence, it is acting as an adverb.)

c) Sometimes, the infinitive form of a verb functions as an adjective.

For example: 

I have no time to cook food for you.

(Here, the infinitive ‘to cook’ is modifying the noun ‘time’. Hence, it is acting as an adjective.)