The Infinitive

A verbal noun is used in place of the verb to express more forcefully the action. The use of a definite article with the infinitive has no major effect upon its variations in use; rather, it restores the noun aspect of the word over its verbal characteristics. It also carries some grammatical significance in the natural use of the article with the cases and prepositions. As a result of its dual nature, the infinitive is one of the most widely used parts of speech in Koine Greek because it can perform a greater number and variations of functions.

Verbal Use of the Infinitive

This aspect of the infinitive looks at its use within context by its verbal characteristics – its functions in the sentence as a finite verb. Like a verb it uses voice and tense, takes an object, and is qualified by an adverb.

Purpose

The infinitive is used to express action that is denoted by a finite verb.
The purpose is expressed by:
The simple infinitive
The infinitive with τοῦ, εἰς, πρός, ὥστε, ὡς

Result

The infinitive is clearly used to signify results.
The result may be expressed by:
The simple infinitive
The infinitive with τοῦ, εἰς, ὥστε

Time

The infinitive is used as the equivalent of a temporal clause.
The infinitive with πρίν or πρίν ἤ is used to express antecedent time
The infinitive with ἐν τῷ is used to express contemporaneous time.
The infinitive with μετὰ τό is used to express subsequent time.

Cause

The accusative infinitive with διά is a very natural construction for the expression of cause.

Command

The imperatival use of the infinitive

Infinitive

0 = Reduplication
+ = Stem Change
Present Activeειν
Present Middleεσθαι
Present Passiveεσθαι
Perfect Active0κεναι
Perfect Middle0σθαι
Perfect Passive0σθαι
Future Activeσειν (λύσειν)
Future Middleσεσυαι
Future Passiveθησεσθαι
1st Aorist Activeσαι (λῦσειν)
1st Aorist Middleσασθαι
1st Aorist Passiveθηναι
2nd Aorist Active+εῖν λάμβανω = λαβεῖν
2nd Aorist middle+εσθαι
2nd Aorist Passive+ήαι

Noun Use of the Infinitive

It has a relation to cases, can be accompanied by a preposition, used as a subject or object, modify other words, accept an article, and be qualified by an adjective.

Subject

The infinitive may function in the exact same way that a noun would as the subject of a finite verb

Object

The noun characteristic of the infinitive enables it quite readily to serve as the object of a finite verb.

Indirect Object

An infinitive may function as the secondary object of a verb. This use of the infinitive conveys a mild telic force, being used to express that for which or with reference to which the action or state of the governing verb is performed or exists.

Instrumental

Defines more clearly the content of the action denoted by a previous verb or noun.

Apposition

The infinitive is found in apposition to the noun.

Modifier

Just as nouns may modify one another in various case relations, so an infinitive may modify a noun.
The infinitive may modify a noun in a typical adjectival relationship.
The infinitive may modify an adjective with a regular adjectival relationship.