Self study The Infinitive

Forms of the infinitive

The infinitive has the following active and passive forms: simple (to write), continuous (to be writing), perfect (to have written), perfect continuous (to have been writing), simple passive (to be written), perfect passive (to have been written). The examples below illustrate the use of the infinitive forms in sentences.

I asked him to write a report.

He is supposed to be writing a report now.

He appears to have written a report already.

He seems to have been writing a report for two hours already.

I expect his report to be written tomorrow.

I expect his report to have been written by now.

Simple active and passive forms are the most common. Compound (analytical) forms of the infinitive are not used very often in general speech and writing.