perfect infinitive

noun

In English, an infinitival phrase consisting of the infinitive of the auxiliary "have" (with or without a preceding "to") plus the past participle; a comparable phrase or word in other languages.

“The perfect infinitive of "go" is "(to) have gone".”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounperfect infinitive (plural perfect infinitives)

plural perfect infinitives

  1. In English, an infinitival phrase consisting of the infinitive of the auxiliary "have" (with or without a preceding "to") plus the past participle; a comparable phrase or word in other languages.

    The perfect infinitive of "go" is "(to) have gone".

Translations

French infinitif passé
  • infinitif passénonfinite word or phrase equivalent to an infinite expressed in the perfect aspect
Cite this entry
APA

perfect infinitive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perfect%20infinitive

MLA

“perfect infinitive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perfect%20infinitive. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “perfect infinitive,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perfect%20infinitive.

Source: perfect infinitive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.