Narrative infinitive is a grammatical construction where an infinitive verb (“to walk,” “to see”) functions as the main action in a narrative clause, lending immediacy, timelessness, or archetypal quality; in poetry, it compresses sequence into essence—“He to fall, she to rise”—suggesting fate or mythic pattern rather than specific chronology, as in biblical or epic openings that frame human action as universal drama.

Narrative infinitive uses the infinitive verb form (“to walk,” “to mourn”) to depersonalize or universalize action. Related to situational deixis. Creates mythic or timeless tone—common in folk or ritual verse; note how it distances or elevates the speaker.