Infinitive

The infinitive is a simple word made out of the verb root. It corresponds well with the English infinitive in translations, which is the word “to” followed by the verb. (Ex: “to fall”, “to wash”). It is used very often to help form other expressions and verb forms.

Ex:

• கழுவ = “to wash”
• விழ = “to fall”
• சொல்ல = “to say”
• பண்ண = “to do”
• ஊற்ற = “to pour”

Irregulars

“Going to …”, etc.

In English, we sometimes say “They are going to buy things” or “We went to play”. To say “going to”, follow the infintive with போ³. In addition to போ³, this also applies to any other verbs that make sense in its place, such as விடு⁴, முயற்சி செய்^1a, விரும்பு³, and பார்⁶.

Although பார்⁶ means “see”, when it is used here, it means “try”. முயற்சி செய்^1a means “try” as it is, so both verbs mean the same thing here.

Ex:

• அவர்கள் பொருள்களை வாங்க போகிறார்கள் = “They are going to buy things”
• நாங்கள் விளையாட போனோம் = “We went to play”
• அவன் பேருந்தில் ஏற முயற்சி செய்தான், ஆனால் அவனால் ஏற முடியவில்லை = “He tried to get on the bus, but he was not able to get on.”

Should / Should Not

Ex:

• நான் புறப்பட வேண்டும் = “I should depart”
• நீ பாலில் தண்ணீரை கலக்க கூடாது = “You shouldn’t mix water in the milk”

prior uses of the infinitive

The infinitive has been the basis for some of the rules about negative commands and verbs with அது and அவை. Using the infinitive, the previous rules become: