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Topic · 3 parts
Verb – Infinitive: all parts
The textbook teaches this topic in 3 parts across lessons 16.2, 27.2, 39.2. Here they are together, in order.
SemanticsSemantics: Verb – Infinitive (1 – Hypothetical eventuality; 2 – Habitual)
As we said previously, infinitives refer to eventualities that are hypothetical or unreal in some way:
SyntaxSyntax-Semantics: Verb – Infinitive (2 – Purpose adjunct)
In addition to infinitives being used as complements (see 16.2.4.2), they are also commonly found as adjuncts after verbs that do not require them. When used as an adjunct, infinitives are often interpreted as indicating the purpose of the subject for doing the action described by the main verb:
καὶ ἀνέστη ἀναγνῶναι (Luke 4:16)
And he stood up to read
The meaning of the verb ἀνέστη ‘stand up’ does not require another eventuality, so the following infinitive is not a complement. Rather, the infinitive ἀναγνῶναι ‘to read’ gives the reason why Jesus stood up. Infinitive adjuncts need not be interpreted as indicating purpose, but this is one of the most common interpretations.
fromLesson 27.2: Verb – Luo medio-passive, Aorist middle infinitive
SyntaxSyntax-semantics: Verb – Infinitive (4 – Subject of another predicate)
Syntacticians have noticed that infinitive clauses have many similarities to nouns, such as both being able to serve as direct object:
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New Testament text shown on hover: Greek from the SBLGNT, © 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0; English from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain).