"Infinitivus" - in translation from Latin "uncertain". In the dictionaries published up to 70 of the 20th century, "infinitive" was defined as "an uncertain verb mood". What does it have to do with an inclination, and what correct definition at an infinitive? And whether there is it in general?
Modern dictionaries treat an infinitive simply – "an uncertain form of a verb" (such words how "to run", "fly" with an inflection "-t"). The fact that a form – it is clear, but as language – a concept material whether the infinitive has a contents? This question still causes heated arguments: someone calls an infinitive a zero form (and with lack of contents), someone insists on return of the previous formulation – "an uncertain inclination". Is as well supporters of "zero pledge" (that is not valid and not passive; not active and not passive – besides in old tradition or in traditions of other languages, for example, English). The most paradoxical version – an infinitive has no relation to verbs at all, and more likely to the particles (expressing a modality, a fazovost and so forth). It is hard to say, a zero inclination or zero pledge at an infinitive, but the fact that particles could not be a part of a predicate is precisely. The infinitive, on the contrary, can be a part of predicates (verbal). For example, expressing the same modality (zhelayemost): "he ceased to want to study" where there is also actually modal verb ("to want") and the reflexive verb "to study". By the way, reflexive verbs are also ranked by some researchers as infinitives though this opinion is represented wrong as the postfix – sya (itself) already bears in itself a certain semantic filling, and an infinitive – the uncertain form – after all cannot have such developed value (to teach themselves). Not resolved still is a question and with "-t". Some scientists after all incline that it is an inflection (that is the morpheme connecting a word with other sentence parts), others – that it is a form-building suffix of an infinitive, for communications in the offer not answering. Speaking about a predicate, it should be noted that in informal conversation the infinitive can in offers with value of the message, the movement, the speech, the direction, the beginning or continuation to perform function of a zero predicate. For example, "We to have supper", "It is time to go" "Children – to sleep!".