The infinitive mood is used to indicate the action expressed by the verb in a generic way:
- Camminare (walking)
- Bere (drinking)
- Piangere (crying)
- Viaggiare (travelling)
The infinite mood has a simple tense (made up of only one element): The present tense.
| are | ere | ire |
| amare | leggere | partire |
The present infinitive indicates the simultaneity of two actions, whether in the present, past, or future tense.
- Volvevo diventare un avvocato.
- I wanted to become a lawyer.
- Voglio diventare un avvocato.
- I want to become a lawyer.
- Vorrò diventare un avvocato.
- I will want to become a lawyer.
The infinite mood also has a compound tense (made up of two elements): The past tense.
| are | ere | ire |
| aver amato | aver letto | aver partito |
In addition to having the function of a verb, the infinitive can also be used as a noun, that is, with the value of a noun:
- Questo vostro andare e venire mi disturba parecchio.
- This coming and going of yours disturbs me a lot.