INFINITIVES

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

The second principal part of a verb in a dictionary will give you the present active infinitive.

There are 6 different infinitives in Latin:

-       Present Active Infinitive

o   This is the second principal part (e.g. amare, audire, delere) – ‘to love’

-       Present passive infinitive

o   Replace the ‘e’ at the end of the present active infinitive with ‘i’ (e.g. amari, audiri, deleri) – ‘to be loved’

-       Perfect Active Infinitive

o   Take the perfect stem (3rd principal part) and add -isse (e.g. amavisse, audivisse, delevisse) – ‘to have loved

-       Perfect Passive Infinitive

o   Perfect passive participle (4th principal part) + esse (amatus esse, auditus esse, deletus esse) – ‘to have been loved

o   The participle is declined to agree with the subject’s gender, number and case (visit the section on participles to understand this more!)

-       Future active infinitive

o   Future active participle + esse (e.g. amaturus esse, auditurus esse, deleturus esse) – ‘to be about to love’

o   The participle is declined to agree with the subject’s gender, number and case (visit the section on participles to understand this more!)

Whilst there is a future passive infinitive, this isn’t required for GCSE Latin!