The infinitive is a verbal noun (like the English infinitive ["to run"] and the gerund ["running"])
As an noun, the infinitive has gender, number and case:
gender: always neuter
number: always singular (even when it has a plural subject)
case: nominative, genitive, dative and accusative
the article is always used with the genitive and dative to indicate case (to\ peri\ touV tre/xein bibli/on, "the book about running")
the article may,
but usually is not used with thenominative
and accusative bou/lomai
tre/xein,
""I wish to run" [accusative object])
As a verb, the infinitive changes form according to "tense" and voice
"tense" of an infinitive represents aspect, not time, except in indirect discourse
voice may be active, middle or passive
the
infinitve may have a subject,
which is almost always in the
accusative
(bou/lomai KuVron tre/xein,
"I want Kyros to run")
Some conjunctions govern an infinitive:
pri/n,
"before"
w/(ste,
"so as to"
(what would happen; w(/ste
+
indicative = what does happen)