Verbals - Infinitives

Verbals - Infinitives

Infinitive and infinitive phrase

"to" followed by a verb or the verb and its modifiers

Infinitive or Prepositional phrase?

Infinitive is the preposition "to" followed by a verb.

I love to giggle.

I was happy to go.

The game to win is tomorrow night.

Infinitive phrase is the preposition "to" followed by a verb and its modifiers.

Sally wanted to sleep in the tent outside.

Prepositional phrase is a preposition followed by a noun or pronoun.

I drove to the store and then to your house.

Multiple Select

Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase, or Prepositional Phrase?

I can not stop to talk.

• infinitive

• infinitive phrase

• prepositional phrase

Multiple Select

Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase, or Prepositional Phrase?

Everyone was happy to go with me this afternoon.

• infinitive

• infinitive phrase

• prepositional phrase

Multiple Select

Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase, or Prepositional Phrase?

The book to read is To Kill a Mockingbird.

• infinitive

• infinitive phrase

• prepositional phrase

Multiple Select

Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase, or Prepositional Phrase?

Everyone went to the gym for the basketball game.

• infinitive

• infinitive phrase

• prepositional phrase

Multiple Select

Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase, or Prepositional Phrase?

It is not fun to sneeze in your mask.

• infinitive

• infinitive phrase

• prepositional phrase

Multiple Select

Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase, or Prepositional Phrase?

Someone wanted to see me.

• infinitive

• infinitive phrase

• prepositional phrase

Multiple Select

Infinitive, Infinitive Phrase, or Prepositional Phrase?

To sing is what I wanted more than anything.

• infinitive

• infinitive phrase

• prepositional phrase

All infinitives will function as either a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Infinitives can function as a noun:

• To laugh is healthy. - noun - it functions as the subject of the sentence.

• I started to laugh. - noun - it functions as the direct object of the sentence.

• My favorite thing is to laugh. - noun - it functions as the predicate nominative.

Infinitives can function as an adjective:

• The gift to give is friendship. - adjective - modifies the noun "gift" Answers the question which gift?

• The kitten to pet is the spotted one. - adjective - modifies the noun "kitten" Answers the questions which kitten?

• The popcorn to eat during the movie was hot and buttery. - adjective - modifies the noun "popcorn" Answers the question which popcorn?

Infinitives can function as an adverb:

• I was happy to hear about your success. - adverb - modifies the predicate adjective "happy"

• Sandy was ready to eat! - adverb - modifies the predicate adjective "ready"

• My dog was sad to leave me.- adverb - modifies the predicate adjective "sad"

Multiple Select

How is the infinitive used?

The frogs wanted to leap into the water.

• noun

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Select

How is the infinitive used?

The thieves were excited to abscond with the treasure.

• noun

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Select

How is the infinitive used?

The people to hoodwink are over there.

• noun

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Select

How is the infinitive used?

No one wants to terminate a friendship.

• noun

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Select

How is the infinitive used?

The customers to compensate were in line early.

• noun

• adjective

• adverb

Remember...

a gerund is a verb that always ends in "ing" and functions as a noun

a participle is verb that functions as an adjective (present participles end in "ing" and past participles can end in "ed" "en" "n" "t")

an infinitive is "to" followed by a verb and functions as either a noun, adjective or an adverb.

Multiple Select

Identify the following as either an infinitive, gerund, or participle.

The song to sing is very difficult.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Multiple Select

Identify the following as either an infinitive, gerund, or participle.

Cindy enjoys singing in the choir.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Multiple Select

Identify the following as either an infinitive, gerund, or participle.

Singing outside my window, the bird put me to sleep.

• gerund phrase

• participle phrase

• infinitive phrase

Multiple Select

Identify the following as either an infinitive, gerund, or participle.

Everyday, my neighbor's barking dog runs after our car.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Multiple Select

Identify the following as either an infinitive, gerund, or participle.

My sister tried to bake me a birthday cake.

• gerund phrase

• participle phrase

• infinitive phrase

Multiple Select

Identify the following as either an infinitive, gerund, or participle.

Rowing will be a challenge.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Poll

I understand the difference between gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

• YES :)

• NO :(