INFINITIVES

An infinitive is a basic form of a verb, often translated with the word ‘to….’

Here are the PRESENT infinitive forms that you need to learn:

- Present Active Infinitive

  • Add -ειν to the verb stem (e.g. παυειν) – ‘to stop’

- Present Middle Infinitive

  • Add -εσθαι to the present stem (e.g. παύεσθαι) – ‘to cease’

- Present Passive Infinitive

  • Exactly the same as the present middle infinitive (e.g. παύεσθαι) - ‘to be stopped’

Here are the FUTURE infinitive forms that you need to learn (very predictable in form):

- Future Active Infinitive

  • Like the present active infinitive but with a sigma so -σειν (e.g. παύσειν) - ‘to be going to stop’ ‘to be about to stop’

- Future Middle Infinitive

  • Again, add the sigma to the present middle/passive infinitive so -σεσθαι (e.g. παύσεσθαι) - ‘to be going to cease’

- Future Passive Infinitive

  • Add -σθήσεσθαι to the present stem (e.g. παυσθήσεσθαι) - ‘to be going to be stopped’

Ignore the clunky literal translations for now as the context helps them be translated in better English.

Here are the AORIST infinitive forms that you need to learn:

- First (Weak) Aorist Active Infinitive

  • Add -σαι to the present stem (e.g. παῦσαι) - ‘to stop’

- First (weak) Aorist Middle Infinitive

  • Add -σασθαι to the present stem (e.g. παύσασθαι) - ‘to cease’

- First (weak) Aorist Passive Infinitive

  • Add -σθηναι to the present stem (e.g. παυσθήναι) - ‘to be stopped’

- Second (Strong) Aorist Active Infinitive

  • Like the present active infinitive but with the aorist stem (e.g. λαβεῖν) - ‘to

- Second (strong) Aorist Middle Infinitive

  • Add -εσθαι to the changed aorist stem (e.g. λαβέσθαι) - ‘to

- Second (strong) Aorist Passive Infinitive

  • (e.g. ληφθῆναι) - ‘to be’

Infinitives of εἰμί:

  • Present = εἶναι

  • Future Infinitive = ἒσεσθαι

Note, contract verbs adapt their infinitive endings, read the contract verbs section of grammar to find out more!

Prolatives

Infinitives can be ‘prolatives’, which mean they naturally follow a verb.

For example, impersonal verbs, verbs like ‘want to -’ or ‘be able to’.

The future infinitive follows these verbs, to reinforce the sense of the verb:

  • ἐλπίζω = I hope (to)

  • μέλλω = I am about to, I intend (to)

  • ὑπισχνέομαι = I promise (to)