-i

The Infinitive

Level 1

The infinitive is the name of the action.

How It Works

The infinitive ends in -i. It names an action without saying who does it or when.

RootInfinitiveMeaning
parolparolito speak
laborlaborito work
manĝmanĝito eat
trinktrinkito drink

A dictionary lists every verb as an infinitive. In a sentence the infinitive follows another verb: Mi ŝatas legi (I like to read). The person who likes is the person who reads.

The infinitive cannot have a subject of its own, so you cannot say mi manĝi. When you need a subject, change the infinitive to -as.

Examples (4)

  1. Mi ŝatas paroli Esperanton.

    I like to speak Esperanto.

    Paroli is the infinitive after the verb ŝatas.

  2. Kofi ŝatas kuiri.

    Kofi likes to cook.

    Kuiri is the infinitive of the action cook.

  3. Ana kaj Kenji ŝatas legi.

    Ana and Kenji like to read.

    Legi names the action that both like.

  4. Ni ŝatas trinki teon.

    We like to drink tea.

    Trinki has its own object, teon.

Common Mistakes

  • Giving an infinitive a subject.

    Mi manĝi kaj trinki.
    Mi manĝas kaj trinkas.

    An infinitive has no subject of its own. Use -as when mi does the action.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-iLevel 1The Infinitive

Learn This First

The infinitive is another verb ending, used for the dictionary form.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.