Complementary InfinitivesChapter 5

What is an infintive?In English, an infinitive is “to”+ a verb.

Examples: to walkto playto liveto learnto love

Latin InfinitivesIn Latin, an infinitive is the Second

Principal Part of the verb that you find in the dictionary entry.

All regular infinitives end in the letters –re.Examples: amāre

monērecaperemunīre

Complementary InfinitivesSome verbs need an infinitive to

finish the thought. These are called “complementary” infinitives, because they “complete” the verb.

Examples: …want to play…ought to run…are able to read

Possum and the Complementary InfinitivePossum is one of those verbs that is

often followed by a complementary infinitive.

“I am able” doesn’t make a lot of sense on its own. It needs an infinitive to complete the thought.

Example: I am able to climb a tree.

In Latin…In Latin, the infinitive is simply the second

principal part of a verb. You do NOT conjugate an infinitive.

We were not able to hear. Audīre non poteramus.