Infinitives and Tense.

Question

Hi
CJ helped me with a tense question yesterday. Since then I have been buried in grammar texts trying for a fuller understanding of tense and infinitives. Can someone check my progress?

I want to see famous singers. Present simple infinitive is to see?
They expect to make new friends at the party. Present simple infinitive is to make?
Grant finished reading a novel. Past simple infinitive is reading?
We started to learn English. Past simple infinitive is to learn?
We started learning English Past simple infinitive is learning?

Thanks
Grant

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

I want to see famous singers. ~~Present~~ simple infinitive is to see? Yes.
They expect to make new friends at the party. ~~Present~~ simple infinitive is to make? Yes
Grant finished reading a novel. ~~Past~~ simple infinitive is reading? Reading is a gerund; the participle form of the verb used as a noun.
We started to learn English. ~~Past~~ simple infinitive is to learn?
We started learning English ~~Past~~ simple infinitive is learning? Learning is a gerund; the participle form of the verb used as a noun.

Infinitives to not have "tense" like finite verbs. The infinitive is always either the base form, or a form of the verb with the particle "to." If you see to followed by a verb phrase, it is an infinitive. The most common form is just to+verb.

Here are the infinitive forms:

1) To + base form of the verb:
She wants to help.
He forgot to lock the door.
To graduate from college is his main goal in life.
It is not permitted to camp in the park.

2) Bare infinitive (used only after a few verbs)
Dare we go to the protest march?
Help me wash the dishes, please.
My brother made me do it!

3) Passive voice infinitive = to + be + past participle
The pie is ready to be baked.
Some people don't want to be seen in public.
My dog loves to be brushed.

4) Perfect infinitive = to + have + past participle (perfect infinitive, passive voice = to + have + been + past participle)
I would have liked to have been there when it happened.
He hated to have missed the last bus.
He seems to have done a good job.
Passive voice:
The house appears to have been damaged by the tornado.
The job was supposed to have been finished yesterday.

5) Progressive infinitive: to + be+ present participle
He seemed to be dreaming.
He does not want his brother to be smoking in his room.
It's wonderful to be relaxing on the beach.

Infinitives and Tense.

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