USE OF THE INFINITIVE OF THE VERB
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USE OF THE INFINITIVE OF THE VERB
As already mentioned, the infinitive is used to construct the future tense, subjunctive, and imperative forms of a verb. (See the sections "General Information about Verbs" and "Perfective and Imperfective Verbs")
The infinitive is also used to express desire, possibility, intention, etc., in combination with certain verbs.
Here are some of the main uses of the infinitive:
1. Desire (hotjetj):
Ja hotjet tancevatj — I want to dance.
On hotjet učitjsja - He wants to study.
2. Skill (umjetj):
Ja umjet risovatj — I can draw.
Ona umjet gtotovjitj — She knows how to cook.
3. Possibility/impossibility (mogti):
Ja mogti idti domoj - I can go home.
Ja nje mogti plǐtj — I can't swim.
4. Preference/love (ljubitj):
Ja ljubit čitatj — I love to read.
On ljubit igratj na gitara — He loves to play the guitar.
5. Intention (sobiratjsja):
Ja sobiratsja učitjsja — I am going to study.
On sobiratsja ujehatj — He is getting ready to leave.
6. Advice (sovejetovatj):
Ja sovjetovat na vas otdǐhnutj — I advise you to take a rest.
On sovejetovat na nas sdjelatj pauza — He advises us to take a break.
7. Request (prositj):
Ja prosiit na vas pomogti mjenje — I ask you to help me.
On prosit na njejo priniatj rješenije — He asks her to make a decision.
8. Knowledge (znatj):
On znal postupitj — He knew what to do.
She knew how to answer the question.
9. To indicate the beginning, continuation, and end of an action, with the verbs načinatj, načatj, prodolžatj, prodolžitj, pjerestatj, končatj, končitj
Ja načal rabotatj - I started working
Tǐ prodolžal rabotatj - You continued working
On pjerestal rabotatj - He stopped working
Ona končil čitatj - She finished reading
IN THESE CASES ONLY INFINITIVES OF IMPERFECT VERBS CAN BE USED
10. To indicate the goal with verbs of motion: idti, hoditj, jehatj, poidti, priidti
Ja idti kušatj - I'm going to eat.
On pojehal otdohnutj - He went to rest.
Ona ujehal učitjsja - She went to study.
Oni pošol kupatjsja - They went swimming.
11. To indicate necessity, possibility,
action in combination with the words: nado, nužno, njeobhodimo, možno, njeljzja, vrjemja:
Dlja nih vrjemja uhoditj - It's time for them to go.
Dlja njej njeobhodimo otdǐhnutj - She needs to rest.
Dlja nas možno kupatjsja - We can swim.
Dlja vas njeljzja kuritj - You can't smoke.
12. To indicate a person’s (physical or mental) state in combination with adverbs ending in -o: prijatno, poljezno, vrjedno in impersonal sentences:
Dlja nas prijatno guljatj - We enjoy walking.
Dlja djeti poljezno bjegatj - Running is good for children.
Dlja vas vrjedno kuritj - Smoking is bad for you.
13. To indicate intention, obligation, readiness with some short adjectives: dolžen, objazan, namjerjen, gotov, rad in impersonal sentences:
On dolžen priidti sjejčas (He should come now)
Ona vsjegda gotov pomogatj (She is always ready to help)
Ja rad poznakomitjsja s vas (I'm glad to meet you)