Translation of Latin Infinitives

Infinitives are verbal nouns (neuter singular). In Latin, the infinitive is used in the nominative and accusative; the gerund is used for the other cases. Thus, infinitives may function as the subject, as a complementary infinitive, or (often with an accusative) as an object phrase. As with the participle, the tense expresses time relative to the main verb; English expresses time relative to the present.

Present Active Infinitive
-re
“to _______” [action going on at the same time as that of the main verb]

Translations in indirect statement

Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb:
[dīxit sē librum] mittere
[s/he said that s/he] was [in the process of/at that time] sending the book.

Translation of infinitive with present tense main verb:
[dīcit sē librum] mittere
[s/he says that s/he] is [in the process of/now] sending the book.
Perfect Active Infinitive
-isse
“to have _______ed” [action completed before the time of the main verb]
Composition note: If someone “ought to have done something,” in Latin the main verb goes in the perfect (debuit) and the infinitive is in the present.
Translations in indirect statement

Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb:
[Dīxit sē librum] mīsisse
[S/he said that s/he] had [already/previously] sent the book.

Translation of infinitive with present tense main verb:
[Dīcit sē librum] mīsisse.
[S/he says that s/he] [already] sent the book.
Future Active Infinitive
-tūrum / -sūrum esse
“to be about to _______” [action after the time of the main verb]
Translations in indirect statement
Note: The ending on the participle part of the infinitive agrees with the accusative “subject.”

Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb:
[Dīxit sē librum] missūrum esse.
[He said that he] was going to/would send the book.
[Dīxit sē librum] missūram esse.
[She said that she] was going to/would send the book.

Translation of infinitive with present tense main verb:
[Dīcit sē librum] missūrum esse.
[He says that he] is going to/will send the book.
[Dīcit sē librum] missūram esse.
[She says that she] is going to/will send the book.
Present Passive Infinitive

-rī (-ārī, -ērī, -ī, īrī)

“to be _______ed” [action going on at the same time as that of the main verb]
Translations in indirect statement

Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb:
[Dīxit librum] mittī.
[S/he said that the book] was [at that time/in the process of] being sent.

Translation of infinitive with present tense main verb:
[Dīcit librum] mittī.
[S/he says that the book] is [now/in the process of] being sent.
Perfect Passive Infinitive
-tum / -sum esse
“to have been _______ed” [action completed before the time of the main verb]
Translations in indirect statement
Note: The ending on the participle part of the infinitive agrees with the accusative “subject.”

Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb:
[Dīxit librum] missum esse.
[S/he said that] the book had [already/previously] been sent.
[Dīxit puellam] missam esse.
[S/he said that the girl] had [already] been sent.

Translation of infinitive with present tense main verb:
[Dīcit librum] missum esse.
[S/he says that the book] [already] was (/has been) sent.
[Dīcit puellam] missam esse.
[S/he says that the girl] [already] was (/has been) sent.
Passive Periphrastic
(future passive participle + esse)
-ndum / -nsum esse
“to (be about to) be _______ed” [action to be done (after) the time of the main verb;
it often expresses what is needed (to be done) in the situation]
Translations in indirect statement
Note: The ending on the participle agrees with the accusative “subject.”

Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb:
[Dīxit auxilium] mittendum esse.
[S/he said that help] had to be sent.

Translation of infinitive with present tense main verb:
[Dīcit auxilium] mittendum esse.
[S/he says that help] must be/has to be sent.