7.1 Infinitive

In this blog, we are going to discuss more grammar points. In particular, we focus on the most confusing part of the learning English grammar is the usage of infinitives and gerund. This time we learn grammar with the help of one of the noted songs of the 19s American band ‘the Beatles.’ The title of the song is “If I Fell.”

Source: The Beatles-If I fell (A Hard Day's Night)

"The Beatles-If I Fell (A Hard Day's Night)". 2019. Youtube. Accessed June 29 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOTExcE2dM.

Here, in this saying:

 “If I fell in love with you
Would you promise to be true
And help me understand
Cause I've been in love before
And I found that love was more
Than just holding hands.”

Grammar point: 7.1) Infinitive:

It looks like a base verb, for example, go, see, look, etc. but it isn't used as the main verb in the sentence, so they do not refer to tense or sentence. Generally, they follow by ‘to.’ 

Example: I want to show you my new glasses.

The formation of the infinitive: ‘to’ + ‘base form of the verb.’

It’s simple right! Though many beginners, intermediate learners and sometimes even native speaker may be confused between using an infinitive and gerund form which is ‘ing’ form with base verb So here is the solution. By critically reading and analyzing the picture below, you can easily differentiate and avoid this tricky English grammar mistake. 

The Ultimate Guide to Learn: Infinitives

Rules:

    1)    Place the infinitive after the verb + object combination:

Example: We have no time to prepare lunch we should eat out.

Here in this sentence, ‘have’ is a verb and ‘time’ is an object.

    2)    It can be used to show purpose like “because”:

Example: Rahul wore a tie to look professional.

Here, it can state the same as Rahul wore a tie because he wants to look professional.

    3)    An adverb can split infinitives:

Example: It’s important for Indian batsman to aggressively play cricket on the fifth day of the test to win the match.

Here, aggressively is an adverb that split the infinitive. 

In a song in the end saying…

"So I hope you see that I
Would love to love you
And that she will cry
When she learns we are two
Cause I couldn't stand the pain
And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

So I hope you see that I
Would love to love you
And that she will cry
When she learns we are two
If I fell in love with you”

We can also put infinitive in the starting of the sentence.

example:

-         To gain more knowledge you have to practice daily.

Here, ‘to practice’ is used because it shows purpose (Rule no. 2)

Thank you. For learning more grammar points you can go to categories or tag for learning your choice of intermediate grammar. If you have any question or suggestion then let me know in the comment section, I’ll be happy to answer them.

-The ultimate guide to Learn English Grammar.

(The initiative by MOOC Learning World)