Infinitives are a form of the verb that comes after the word to and acts as a noun, adjective, or adverbs.

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The Infinitive Phrase

• Infinitives are a form of the verb that comes
  after the word to and acts as a noun, adjective,
  or adverbs.
• EX I wanted to go to the dentist
• Infinitive phrases take on several functions in a
  sentence Nouns (as Subject, Direct Object,
  Complement), Adjectives or Adverbs
• He likes to play chess.

infinitives
prepositional phrase
Infinitive phrase
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Infinitive Phrase as Subject

• To master a language is time-consuming.
• To complete a journey island wide must be
  exciting.
• To see is to believe.
• To fly an airplane upside down can be very
  dangerous.

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Infinitive Phrase as Direct Object

• Jean tried to get along with new classmates.
• I like to do window shopping.
• I want to enjoy myself tonight.

4
Infinitive Phrase as Complement

• Jeans life-long goal is to win a Nobel prize for
  physics. (S.C.)
• I want you to tell the truth.
  
• We expected the speech to be interesting but it
  wasnt. (O.C.)

(O.C.)
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Infinitive Phrase as Adjective

• A good play to read is the Skin of Our Teeth.
• John willingly pays more money at the best places
  to eat good steaks.
• The man to see about this is the president of the
  company.
• The Alps is the perfect place to yodel on a
  mountaintop.

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Infinitive Phrase as Adverb

• To be a professional pianist, Peter will have to
  practice many more years.
• Elvis ran to catch the train.
• Mary shouted to vent out her sorrow.

• The driver stopped to avoid the collision.
• I am happy to see you. (modifying happy)

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Verb Infinitives
agree appear appear afford attempt decide
expect hope hope intend need offer
plan pretend pretend promise refuse seem
try try want want would like would like
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Bracket Infinitive Phrases

• Our new supervisor asked each person
• to bring a notebook.
• To complete the job, we were required
• to work long hours.
• The usher told us to enter quietly.
• He reminded us to ask for directions.
• To find fault with others is easy.

)
(
O.C.
ADV
(
)
)
(
ADV
(
)
O.C.
(
)
O.C.
(
)
S
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Bracketing Infinitive Phrases Exercise
S
(
)

1. To finish her chemistry assignment is Michelles
   only goal tonight.
2. Linda hopes to win the approval of her mother.
3. The best way to learn English is practice.
4. Kevin has been working out to keep fit.

(
)
DO
)
(
ADJ
(
)
ADV
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Bracketing Infinitive Phrases Exercise
ADJ
(
)

1. Her plan to travel around the world will come
   true next year.
2. She wanted to give up dancing.
3. To watch Uncle Billy tell this story is an
   eye-opening experience.

O
(
)
S
(
)
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Bracketing Infinitive Phrases Exercise
S
S.C.
(
)
(
)

1. To know her is to love her.
2. Juan went to college to study medicine.

)
(
ADV
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Punctuating An Infinitive Phrase

• When an infinitive phrase introduces a main
  clause, separate the two sentence components with
  a comma. The pattern looks like this
• ,
• To pass the exam, I have to study harder than
  before.

Infinitive phrase
Main clause
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Punctuating An Infinitive Phrase

• When an infinitive phrase concludes a main
  clause, you need no punctuation to connect the
  two sentence parts. The pattern looks like this
• Janice and her friends went to the mall

Infinitive phrase
Main clause

to buy groceries.
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Infinitive vs. Prepositional Phrase

• Don't confuse infinitives with prepositional
  phrases that begin with to. Remember that a
  prepositional phrase always ends with a noun or a
  pronoun an infinitive always ends with a verb
  (complement e.g. DO., ADJ,ADV, or Noun )
• I love to watch cartoons.
• He went to school.

Infinitive phrase
Prepositional phrase
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Identifying Infinitive or Prep. Phrase

• Identify the following phrases as prepositional
  phrases (PP) or infinitive phrases (IP)
• They go to Avenue of Stars to take some photos.
• Mom decided to have steamed fish for dinner.
• We walked to the park to have a picnic.
• Students are not allowed to cheat on the exam.

IP
PP
(
(
)
)
IP
(
)
PP
IP
(
)
)
(
IP
(
)
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Application 2-3

• Place parentheses around the infinitive phrases
  in the following sentences.
• Everyone expected to receive the shipment before
  Friday.
• I asked them to write legibly.

(
)
(O)
)
(
(O.C.)
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Application 2-3 (Contd)
(O)
(
(
)

• We tried to stop the car in time to avoid the
  accident.
• To get to the stage, we had to enter through the
  side door.
  
• Ms. Baker was instructed to begin the meeting at
  two oclock.

)
(ADV)
(
)
(ADV)
(
)
(ADV)
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More to Learn
Infinitive Phrases Writing Assignment
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Thank You