ABSTRACT
The infinitive is now a purely verbal form. This is shown negatively by the fact that it cannot be preceded by the definite or indefinite article, an adjective, or a genitive, and positively by the fact that it can take an object and an adverb (or other tertiary), and that it possesses a perfect (23.8) and a passive. On the other hand, it has so far retained its substantival character as it can stand as a subject or object, etc.; a reminiscence of its origin is also the mixed active-passive character of the infinitive in some cases (32.22, 24, 27). On account of all these things a classification of the manifold uses of the infinitive offers considerable difficulty.
