Infinitive and Infintive Phrases

Infinitive and Infintive Phrases

Standards:

CC.9-10.L.1

Conventions of Standard English: Demonstrate command of the conventions of

standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

CC.9-10.L.1.b Conventions of Standard English: Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.

Objectives: 

• 
  

  Identify various types of phrases.  

• Use various types of phrases to convey specific meanings to add variety and interest to writing or

  presentations.

• Write sentences that include infinitive phrases

Warmig Up

Identify the infinitives in the sentences.

My mother asked me to help her.

To dance beneath the stars with her is Jared’s only goal.

Katherine braved the windstorm to search for her lost dog.

What is an infinitive? 

It’s a "to + verb"

When “to” is attached to a verb in this manner, it’s no longer working as a preposition. Rather, it becomes part of the verb.

Examples

“to walk,” “to read,” or “to eat.”

Infinitives can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Infinitives as Nouns

They might act as the subject of the sentence. For example, “To travel is the only thing on her mind.” 

Open Ended

Write your own sentence using infinitive as noun.

Infintives As an Adjective

• Modify a noun.

• For example, “Aaron always brings a book to read.” 

Open Ended

Write your own sentence using infinitive as adjective.

Infinitive As an Adverb

• Modify verbs, other adjectives, or other adverbs.

• For example, “Katherine braved the windstorm to search for her lost dog.”

Open Ended

Write your own sentence using infinitive as adjective.

What Is an Infinitive Phrase?

An infinitive phrase starts with an infinitive and includes other modifiers or objects. Like infinitives themselves, infinitive phrases can act in three different capacities:

Nouns

Adjectives

Adverbs

Examples:

• To dance beneath the stars with her is Jared’s only goal.

• The best book to help you understand fairy tales is titled Once Upon a Time. (modifying the noun “book”)

• Aisling is planting a vegetable garden to eat organic foods right from her own backyard. (modifying the verb “planting”)