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] | |
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Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb: |
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. |
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| Translations in indirect statement |
Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb: |
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: |
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: |
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: |
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] |
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| Translations in indirect statement Note: The ending on the participle agrees with the accusative “subject.” |
Translation of infinitive with past tense main verb: |
Translation of infinitive with present tense main verb: [Dīcit auxilium] mittendum esse. [S/he says that help] must be/has to be sent. |