Infinitive: The to-Form
To + verb: the blueprint form. I want to travel, she decided to leave, nice to meet you. The verb that carries the to.
The Infinitive
The blueprint form: to + verb
The infinitive is the verb with its blueprint: to go, to eat, to learn. It follows some verbs (want, decide, hope, plan), explains purpose (why you do something), and makes polite phrases like nice to meet you.
After want / decide / hope / plan
the verb behind the intentionI want to learn Spanish
Purpose — why you do it
to answers the whyShe studied hard to pass the exam
It is + adjective + to
the comment frameIt is easy to use
Polite phrases
the to-form of greetingsNice to meet you
⚠️ The to-form: after intention verbs, for purpose, and in polite phrases.
The Formula
to + bare verb
The infinitive is always to plus the bare verb. It follows the main verb, or opens the purpose of the sentence.
Iwant to learnSpanish
Shedecided to leaveearly
Hestudied hardto pass the exam
It is easyto use
Common Mistakes
Four blueprint slips
The blueprint smudges when the to goes missing, when the -ing form steals the to-form’s job, or when for tries to do purpose work.
I want go home.
I want to go home.
💡 Want takes the to-form: want + to + verb.
She decided leaving early.
She decided to leave early.
💡 Decide takes the to-form, not -ing.
I went there for buy milk.
I went there to buy milk.
💡 Purpose takes to + verb, not for + verb.
It is easy use.
It is easy to use.
💡 The comment frame: It is + adjective + to.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
I want ___ English.
💡 Ek bilgiler2 bölüm
The to-Form Team
Five verbs that collect to + verb
Some verbs always follow the to-form. These five cover most of daily English.
⚠️ The next lesson: the -ing team vs the to-form team — and the verbs that play for both.
Where to Lives
Three homes for the blueprint
The to-form has three favourite homes. Find the right home and the sentence builds itself.