Infinitive (Neurčitek)
The infinitive in Czech is the basic, unconjugated form of the verb.
It corresponds to the English “to + verb” form (e.g., to work, to eat).
Mood:
- The infinitive does not express mood directly. It is a non-finite verb form.
Aspect:
- Every infinitive is either imperfective (ongoing, repeated) or perfective (single, completed).
- Imperfective: pracovat (to work – process)
- Perfective: udělat (to do – completed)
Voice:
- Usually active, but can appear in passive constructions.
Formation
Most Czech infinitives end in -t or -ci.
- The common ending is -t: pracovat (to work), psát (to write).
- Some verbs end in -ci (archaic or irregular forms): nésti (to carry), jíti (to go).
- Modern Czech usually simplifies -ti / -ci endings to -t.
Usage
After modal verbs
- Chci pracovat. (I want to work.)
- Musím jít. (I must go.)
Purpose or intention
- Jdu spát. (I am going to sleep.)
- Učí se číst. (He is learning to read.)
Commands in written instructions
- Nezapomenout zamknout dveře. (Don’t forget to lock the door.)
As a noun-like expression
- Kouřit je nezdravé. (Smoking is unhealthy.)
Examples
- Imperfective: Rád číst knihy. (I like to read books.)
- Perfective: Potřebuji napsat dopis. (I need to write a letter.)
Notes
- Infinitives are the dictionary form of Czech verbs.
- They are used in conjugation tables to show the base verb.
- The distinction between imperfective vs perfective is crucial for meaning.
Common Expressions
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| chtít + infinitive (to want) | Chci jít domů. (I want to go home.) |
| muset + infinitive (must) | Musím pracovat. (I must work.) |
| umět + infinitive (can/know how) | Umím číst česky. (I can read Czech.) |
| rád + infinitive (like to) | Rád hraju fotbal. (I like to play football.) |
Irregular Verbs
Some older forms still appear in literature:
- nést (to carry) → archaic infinitive nésti
- jít (to go) → archaic infinitive jíti
In modern usage, these are usually shortened (nést, jít).
