Adverbs and Infinitives

INFINITIVES AND INFINITIVE PHRASES

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

What is an Infinitive?

• An infinitive is a verb that functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb in order to express an opinion, purpose of an object or action, or answer the questions who, what, or why.

• An infinitive usually begins with the word “to” and is followed by the base form of a verb (the simple form of the verb that you would find in the dictionary).

• Keep in mind that although infinitives are verbs, they do not function as verbs!

Examples of infinitives

• I need to run every day. (The infinitive form with the word "to" is called the "full infinitive" or "to-infinitive".)

• I must run every day. (After certain verbs, the "to" is dropped. The word "to" is not a preposition. It is the "sign of infinitive.")

• I run every day. (This is not the infinitive form. This is a "finite verb", i.e., a verb functioning as the main verb in a sentence.)

Multiple Choice

Find the correct infinitive in the sentence:

Laurie said that the best place to go on Friday is the roller rink.

• is

• said

• to go

Multiple Choice

Find the correct infinitive in the sentence:

The neatly chopped tomatoes were ready to go into the salad.

• chopped

• to go

• were ready

Multiple Select

Determine whether the sentence has an infinitive or not. Check on the correct option.

The clerk gave the sack of groceries to him.

• Has an infinitive

• No infinitive

Infinitive as nouns

• Remember that a noun is a person, place, or thing. When an infinitive is used as the subject or direct object in a sentence, it functions as a noun.

• The sentence’s subject performs the verb, while the sentence’s direct object receives the verb.

• Example 1: I love to sleep. (In this sentence, the verb is “love.”)

• Who or what receives the action of being loved? The infinitive “to sleep.” This makes “to sleep” the direct object of the sentence.

• In this case, the infinitive functions as a noun that expresses an opinion. It could be replaced with a person, place, or thing, as in, “I love pizza.”

Infinitive as nouns

• Example 2: I really need to eat something.

• In this sentence, the verb is "need."

• Who or what do I need? The infinitive "to eat", hence, the infinitive is being used as a noun.

• Remember, "to eat" is the direct object of "need" because it receives the action.

Infinitive as adjectives

• An adjective is a word that modifies (adds to or describes) a noun. So infinitives function as adjectives when they modify or describe nouns in a sentence.

• An infinitive that acts as an adjective usually appears immediately after the noun it is modifying.

• Example 1: Joel wants a book to read. (In this sentence, the verb is “wants” and the subject is the noun “book.” We also see the infinitive “to read.”)

• What is the purpose of “to read” in this sentence? It describes the book; Joel isn’t looking for just any book, he’s looking for a book to read.

Infinitive as adjectives

• Example 2: Give him an ornament to polish.

• In this sentence, the infinite modifies "ornament." This means it is functioning as an adjective.

• Now let's compare:

• Give him an ornament that he can polish.

• The clause "that he can polish" is an adjective clause. This proves that the infinitive "to polish" is being used as an adjective.

Infinitive as adverbs

• Adverbs modify or describe adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs. They provide additional information about what, where, how, and to what extent or degree. Sometimes adverbs also answer the question, “Why?”

• Infinitives function as adverbs when they are used to give more information about adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs in the sentence.

• Example 1:The students were excited to go on a field trip.

• In this sentence, the infinitive is “to go.” What is the purpose of “to go” in this sentence? The infinitive “to go” gives us more information about the adjective “excited”; it tells us what the students were excited about (going on a field trip).

Infinitive as adverbs

• Example 2: Mom is going to the store to buy dinner.

• In this sentence, the infinitive is “to buy.”

• What’s the purpose of “to buy” in this example? The infinitive “to buy” gives us more information about the verb “going”; it tells us why Mom is going to the store (to buy dinner).

Multiple Choice

Determine what kind of infinitive is being used in the sentence:

I have always wanted to visit the Egyptian pyramids.

• Infinitive as a noun

• Infinitive as a adjective

• Infinitive as a adverb

Multiple Choice

Determine what kind of infinitive is being used in the sentence:

I may soon have the opportunity to visit the Egyptian pyramids.

• Infinitive as a noun

• Infinitive as a adjective

• Infinitive as a adverb

Multiple Choice

Determine what kind of infinitive is being used in the sentence:

I may travel to Egypt next summer to visit the pyramids.

• Infinitive as a noun

• Infinitive as a adjective

• Infinitive as a adverb

What is an infinitive phrase?

• An infinitive phrase is the infinitive form of a verb plus any complements and modifiers.

• The entire phrase may be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

• The complement of an infinitive verb will often be its direct object, and the modifier will often be an adverb.

More examples of Infinitive Phrases

• He likes to knead the dough slowly.

• The infinitive verb is "to knead." The complement is its direct object ("the dough"). The modifier is the adverb ("slowly"). They all make up the infinitive phrase that has been underlined.

• Analyze the following:

• He helped to build the roof.

• The officer returned to help the inspectors.

• Let me show you the best way to fit a door quickly.

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

Alex was ready to begin his class on Monday.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

To fix a flat bicycle tire you may need a tire patch and some glue.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

The campers went to a campsite near the mountains.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

Henry's little brother always wants to play hide-and-seek.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

The ability to play a musical instrument comes from talent and practice.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

The team went to the stadium to practice the new plays.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

The purpose of a persuasive speech is to convince others.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

Please hand your science project to the person behind you.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

Saturday is a good day to mow the lawn.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

Are you prepared to answer the question?

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

To remember a conversation from three years ago is quite a trick.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None

Multiple Choice

What type of infinitive phrase is being used? If the sentence does not have an infinitive phrase, choose NONE.

An easy thing to form out of paper is an envelope.

• Infinitive phrase as a noun

• Infinitive phrase as an adjective

• Infinitive phrase as an adverb

• None