Suburani 05 Infinitives Intro

When you look up a Latin verb in the dictionary, you see two forms.

For example: dormiō, dormīre

• The first form (dormiō) is the 1st person singular form. It is translated as "I sleep" or "I am sleeping".

• The second form (dormīre) is called the infinitive. It is translated as "to sleep."

Infinitives are used to complete the idea of certain verbs. For example, it is not very meaningful to say "I am able" or "we want." What am I able to do? What do we want to do?

Here are some verbs that almost always have infinitives with them:

• possum, possum: to be able

• volō, velle: to want

• nōlō, nōlle: to not want

There are other verbs that sometimes have infinitives with them.

• parō, parāre: to prepare

• cupiō, cupere: to want, desire

• timeō, timēre: to fear, be afraid