Just like gerunds, infinitives can be used to replace nouns in sentences. The infinitive is formed using: to + base verb
| Verb | Infinitive |
| work | to work |
| make | to make |
| run | to run |
| lose | to lose |
Like gerunds, infinitives can exist on their own as just two words, or they can be part of a longer phrase.
| Infinitive Only | I like to sing. |
| Longer Phrase | I like to sing in the shower. |
Infinitives as Subjects
We often use gerunds as replacements for nouns. We can also do this for infinitives.
| No Infinitives | Wolves are very rare in these forests. |
| Infinitive as Subject | To see a wolf in these forests is very rare. |
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