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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Infinitives as verbs?
Infinitives as verbs?
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kprichorniana
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Infinitives as verbs?
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We feel a bit confused...can an infinitive be a verb. We al know that they are nouns but, when answering an exercise we found in a book. THe answer key said it is a verb. the sentence reads as follows.
He wanted to finish his work.
why is to finish not a noun? There was a second sentence that says:
Susan wanted to talk to Rita.
where also to talk is not a noun, but a verb. Why, why, why..???
The grammar explanation says that all infinitives following a verb are NOUNS not verbs. is the book wrong? Can anyone help please!
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16 Feb 2013
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miss-o
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http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/to+want++to#want_1 |
16 Feb 2013
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yanogator
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Actually, it is a verb, just not the verb of the sentence. It is a verb behaving as a noun, since it is the object of "wanted". He wanted something - what did he want? - He wanted to finish his work. I hope this helps. Bruce |
16 Feb 2013
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Lovely Lana
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Infinitive is a verb form. In your sentence: �He wanted to finish his work � to finish is an infinitive used as an object, as Bruce said.
In the book they probably mean that all infinitives used after verbs have the function of a noun.
What book is it that you�re using?
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16 Feb 2013
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almaz
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Interesting that this sort of question should arise at all. It �s possible that it stems from the occasional classification in some grammars of the infinitive as a �verbal � noun (to err is human etc) which can be in a subject/object position like a �real � noun. As Bruce and Lana have pointed out, there is no doubt that the �infinitive � is the plain form of the verb. Unfortunately, confusion is introduced because the word �noun � (a category), instead of �subject � or �object � (functions), often creeps in when constructions containing this form are being parsed. Moreover, this only �works � with the to + infinitive, not the bare infinitive, which doesn �t help; for example, �finish � is an infinitive without any �noun � properties in sentences such as he should finish his work - it �s a complement of the auxiliary and couldn �t be considered a noun by any stretch of the imagination - even by the author of Elida �s book. |
17 Feb 2013
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kprichorniana
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Lovely
Lana, I�m using OXFORD GRAMMAR PRACTICE intermediate. I had just taugh the
lesson of infinitives and gerunds acting as nouns, and this is an excerse on
parts of speech. I understand what the book is doing now. Thank you very
much for you invaluable input. I am aware that the infinitive is the
plain form of a verb. Our confusion was due to the fact that the exercise
is asking to determine whether the word(s) underlined are nous, verbs,
adjectives, etc... and I�ve realized now what it�s really asking.
So thank you all for taking the time.
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18 Feb 2013
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