Verb infinitive and split verb infinitive patterns

Verb infinitive is the basic form of verb (verb stem) that follows "to". Hence, the pattern used to create a verb infinitive is: to + verb stem.

Examples of verb infinitives

Here are some examples of popular verb infinitives:

• to be,

• to say,

• to watch,

• to focus,

• to compare.

Split verb infinitives

A verb infinitive can be extended and become a split verb infinitive.

Split verb infinitives have an extra adverb put between "to" and verb stem. So, the pattern they are based on looks as follows: to + adverb + verb stem.

Examples of split verb infinitives

Here are some basic examples of split verb infinitives:

• to gladly agree,

• to swiftly decide,

• to merrily laugh,

• to calmly refuse,

• to wholly agree.

Examples

What follows are some example sentences of both verb infinitives and split verb infinitives used in a sentence.

We agreed to work together.

Jenny promised to carefully reconsider her resignation.

We plan to discount and swiftly sell all our remaining stock of furniture.