Grammar Syntax Questions Medium
In grammar syntax, the difference between active and passive infinitives lies in the way the action is expressed.
Active infinitives are used when the subject of the sentence is performing the action. They are formed by using the base form of the verb, such as "to eat," "to run," or "to write." For example, in the sentence "She loves to dance," the active infinitive "to dance" shows that the subject "she" is the one performing the action of dancing.
On the other hand, passive infinitives are used when the subject of the sentence is receiving the action. They are formed by using the infinitive form of the verb preceded by "to be," such as "to be eaten," "to be run," or "to be written." For example, in the sentence "The book needs to be read," the passive infinitive "to be read" indicates that the subject "the book" is the one receiving the action of being read.
In summary, active infinitives express actions performed by the subject, while passive infinitives express actions received by the subject.