Infinitive
Infinitive is another one of the moods of the Greek verb. This mood is used to express the abstracted idea of an action. So, whereas "I took the book" points to a concrete action that happened, "to take the book" points to the idea of this action.
Infinitive is a noun-like form of the verb. So, in addition to changing in Tense and Voice, grammatical categories of the noun also apply to the infinitive. Infinitive is always Neuter & Singular, it can be used in different cases, however, unlike nouns, the form of the infinitive does not change. Only the article, which can occasionally accompany the infinitive, changes.
In usage, the infinitive often behaves like a noun. Also, the instances, where the Greek uses the infinitive often resemble the instances where the English also does. Here are some of the uses one can encounter in the New Testament more often:
The subject of the sentence. Such sentences are usually predicative (i.e. the verb is "to be"). For example, τὸ βλέπειν καλὸν ἐστιν translates to English as to see is good or more elaborately It is good to be able to see.
Completing the meaning of the verb. Some verbs need the infinitive to complete their meaning (for example, θέλω -- to wish or δύναμαι -- to be able). Other verbs don't require an infinitive, but might take it as a direct object. For example, δύναμαι βλέπειν means I am able to see, or I can see.
The main verb in special subordinate clauses. There are subordinate clauses, that require an infinitive as their main verb. One example that appears often is the result clauses introduced by the conjunction ὥστε (meaning so or therefore). An example of such a clause is Ἰησοῦς ἐθεράπευσε ἀυτὸς, ὥστε βλέπειν. Translated, this means Jesus healed him, therefore he sees or Jesus healed him and now he sees.
Note that infinitives can have a direct object and sometimes (mostly in subordinate clauses) also a subject. Both the object and the subject of the infinitive appear in Accusative.
Below, you can find all possible forms of the infinitive. As with other non-indicative moods, there are only three possible tenses, and they convey the type of action, not the time aspect. So, for example, the Present Active Infintive of λύω can be translated as to be loosening, and the Perfect Active Infinitive as to have loosened. Infinitives can be used in all three voices and so, for example, Aorist Passive Infinitive of λύω might be rendered as to be loosened. -- For the Aorist Infinitives, one needs to take away the epsilon-augment from the Principal Part. In brackets, the infinitive forms of the Second Aorist are given.
