Infinitive

Summary

The infinitive is a non-finite verbal form that usually functions as a verbal complement, providing extra information regarding the purpose, result, or temporal frame of the verbal action of the main verb. In rare cases, the infinitive functions independently as a noun.

Article

The infinitive generally functions as a verbal complement to a finite verb, but in rare cases it also functions independently as a noun. The infinitive generally has only one form in each stem formation (Pe’al, Pa’el, etc.), and it does not conjugate according to person, gender, or number as do the finite verb forms.

Form

Infinitive Paradigm

Parsing	Aramaic	Transliteration	Gloss
Pe’al	מִכְתַּב	mikhtabh	to write
Hithpe’el	הִתְכְּתָבָה	hithkethabhah	to write oneself
Pa’el	כַּתָּבָה	kattabhah	to write down
Hithpa’al	הִתְכַּתָּבָה	hithkattabhah	to write oneself down
Haphel	הַכְתָּבָה	hakhtabhah	to cause to write

The infinitive construct is not found in the Hophal or Pual stems in Biblical Aramaic.

Function

The infinitive construct can carry the following range of meanings.

Expresses purpose, result, or complementary action of a main verb (with preposition לְ)

This is by far the most common use of the infinitive construct, as a standard grammatical infinitive.

Note

The infinitive construct can also be used with other prepositions to complement the main verb (such as the preposition עַל in the example below).

In the following example, the infinitive is expressing purpose for the action of the main verb.

In the following example, the infinitive is expressing the result of the action of the main verb.

In the following example, the infinitive is expressing the complementary action of the main verb.

Functions as a noun

The infinitive construct sometimes functions as an independent noun.

The infinitive construct may also introduce an entire clause that functions as a noun.

Regarding use with a pronominal suffix

When the infinitive takes a pronominal suffix, that suffix can be either the subject or the object of the infinitive itself (not the main verb), as determined by the context.

The following example is an infinitive construct with suffix as subject of the action.

The following example is an infinitive construct with suffix as object of the action.