The Infinitive (tumanta)

The Infinitive (tumanta)¶

Another verbal form without declensions is the infinitive. It most commonly expresses a purpose.

I will go to the forest to see the Buddha

ahaṃ buddhaṃ passituṃ araññaṃ gacchissāmi

The infinitive can be translated as

“to see”

“in order to see”

“for the purpose of seeing”

The infinitive can be formed by adding the suffix -tuṃ to the root

The infinitive can be formed by added the suffix -ituṃ to the root.

Very rarely, the infinitive can be formed by added the suffix -ituṃ to the base.

In the case of group 8 verbs (e, aya) and causative verbs, -tuṃ is added to the base ending in -e.

Some verbs like arahati (he deserves, is worthy), sakkoti (he is able) almost always take an infinitive, just like in English.

na te ahaṃ sakkomi vitthārena dhammaṃ desetuṃ (VIN4.1.14)

I am not able to preach the Dhamma in detail to you.

samaṇo gotamo arahati bhavantaṃ kūṭadantaṃ upasaṅkamituṃ (DN5.2)

Ascetic Gotama ought to approach Sir Crooked Tooth.


alaṃ	ind	it is suitable (to) ; one is able (to)
atippago	adv	too early (to)
jegucchī	masc	who disgusted (to)
icchati	pr	wishes (for); desires (to)
kallaṃ	ind	it is suitable (to), it is proper (to)
(a)bhabba	ptp	(un)able (to); (in)capable (of)
pahoti	pr	is able (to)
sahati	pr	is able (to), is possible (to)
sakkā	ind	it is possible (to)
sakkoti	pr	is able (to)
sakkuṇāti	pr	is able (to)
visahati	pr	dares (to)
samattha²³	adj	able (to), capable (to)
varatara	adj	better (to)
vaṭṭati	pr	it is suitable (to), it is right (to)
anucchavika	adj	suitable (to), proper (to)
kāmatā	fem	desire (to), longing (to), wish (to)

Words from here onwards are present mostly in later literature

Some other words can also occasionally take +inf.

Pāli prose is usually very consistent in the usage of infinitives.

Another very common construction in the Tipiṭaka is to make a compound out of an infinitive + kāma. The meaning is “wanting to (do something)”