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Infinitives

Infinitives are verb forms that can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. As nouns, infinitives can serve as subjects, direct objects, or other roles. As adjectives, infinitives modify nouns. As adverbs, infinitives modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Some examples of infinitives functioning as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs are provided and explained.

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74 views

Infinitives

Infinitives are verb forms that can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. As nouns, infinitives can serve as subjects, direct objects, or other roles. As adjectives, infinitives modify nouns. As adverbs, infinitives modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Some examples of infinitives functioning as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs are provided and explained.

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Infinitives

The final verbal…..


Infinitives
 are verbals which means they are verbs that
act as other parts of speech.

 Remember the other verbals?


– Participles act as ADJECTIVES.
– Gerunds act as NOUNS, which in turn act as
subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate
nominatives, objects of prepositions, and
appositives.
Infinitives
 act as nouns, adjectives,
and adverbs
 An infinitive is the TO
form of a verb

 The infinitive of run… is TO


RUN
 The infinitive of scream… is
TO SCREAM
 The infinitive of eat… is TO
EAT
WARNING
 Please note the difference between the following!

 To THE MALL and to swim

 One is an infinitive, and the other is a prepositional


phrase. Do NOT get these confused.

 If “to” is followed by a noun or pronoun, then it is a


prepositional phrase. VERBALS ARE ABOUT VERBS!

Infinitives as Nouns
Look at the following! First, find the infinitive
that is being used as a noun, and then
determine which role it is playing!
 To err is human.
 To err is human. Subject

 Riff always wanted to act.


 Riff always wanted to act. Direct object
Infinitives as Adjectives
Like all adjectives, infinitives acting
as adjectives modify NOUNS or
PRONOUNS!

 The candidate to trust is Tony.

 Note that the infinitive is to trust and


that it is modifying or describing
candidate.
More adjective examples….
 Those are the easiest dogs to train.
 Those are the easiest dogs to train. (note
that to train modifies DOGS.

 He has a great ability to paint.


 He has a great ability to paint. (To paint
modifies ability, which is a noun.)
Infinitives as Adverbs
 Infinitives also act as adverbs; they must
modify VERBS, ADJECTIVES, or other
ADVERBS.

 They act like adverb prepositional phrases.


Infinitives as Adverbs
 Consider these examples….

 The team was slow to score.


 To score modifies the word “slow.” Slow is
an adjective.

 My grandmother has come to stay.


 To stay modifies the verb, come.
Now…. YOU TRY!!!
First, find the infinitive and then
determine how it is functioning in the
sentence!

 We were asked to memorize this poem.


 He was eager to experience college.
 The person to help you is Doc!
 To leave town is relaxing!
Did you get them right?
 We were asked to memorize this poem.
DO
 He was eager to experience college. Adv.
 The person to help you is Doc! Adj.
 To leave town is relaxing! Subj.

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