---
title: infinitive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «infinitive» in the school dictionary: The basic form of a verb, often with to in front: to run, to be, to eat; the bare infinitive has no to: run, be, eat. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# infinitive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bare infinitive, I, split infinitive, you · **What happens:** run, be, eat, have, form, swim · **To what, where:** no, verb, swim infinitive, go infinitive, infinitive meaning, French

<!-- .vabout -->
«infinitive» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [infinitive in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/infinitive.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The basic form of a verb, often with to in front: to run, to be, to eat; the bare infinitive has no to: run, be, eat.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infinitive:m1:1
# text = The basic form of a verb, often with to in front: to run, to be, to eat; the bare infinitive has no to: run, be, eat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	run	run	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	be	be	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	bare	bare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	infinitive	infinitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nsubj	_	_
26	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	parataxis	_	_
27	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	26	obj	_	_
28	to	to	ADP	IN	_	26	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	30	punct	_	_
30	run	run	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	26	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	be	be	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	30	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	34	punct	_	_
34	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	30	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **be** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **eat** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **have** | present | the bare infinitive | no |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent no=Patient |
| 5 | **run** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **be** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 7 | **eat** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 8 | **form** |  |  | a verb with front |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To swim is an infinitive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infinitive:x1:1
# text = To swim is an infinitive.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	compound	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	infinitive	infinitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a swim infinitive |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I want to go home: to go is an infinitive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infinitive:x2:1
# text = I want to go home: to go is an infinitive.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	home	home	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	compound	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	infinitive	infinitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **go** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **go** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** *not said to happen* | present | I *not said here* | a go infinitive |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In French, aller is the infinitive meaning to go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infinitive:x3:1
# text = In French, aller is the infinitive meaning to go.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	aller	all	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	infinitive	infinitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the infinitive meaning |  | French |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A split infinitive puts a word between to and the verb: to boldly go.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infinitive:x4:1
# text = A split infinitive puts a word between to and the verb: to boldly go.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	split	split	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	infinitive	infinitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	puts	put	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
14	boldly	boldly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	15	advmod	_	_
15	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | present | a split infinitive | a word |  | the verb |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent word=Theme between verb=Destination |
| 2 | **go** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | boldly *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can and must are followed by the bare infinitive: I can swim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infinitive:x5:1
# text = Can and must are followed by the bare infinitive: I can swim.
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	followed	follow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	bare	bare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	infinitive	infinitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | must · passive | the bare infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **swim** | can | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Look up a verb in the dictionary by its infinitive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infinitive:x6:1
# text = Look up a verb in the dictionary by its infinitive.
1	Look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dictionary	dictionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	infinitive	infinitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look up** | imperative | you *not said here* | a verb |  | the dictionary |  | by dictionary's infinitive | vn seem-109-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme verb=Attribute |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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