Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases

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Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases
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What is an infinitive?

• An infinitive is a verb form that usually begins
  with the word to and acts as a noun, an
  adjective, or an adverb.
• Ex.
• Mars is a place some people want to visit.

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What is an infinitive phrase?

• An infinitive phrase is an infinitive plus its
  modifiers and complements.
• Ex. To believe in life on Mars was common in the
  1930s.
• Martians might use flying saucers to invade
  earth.
• I took time to read an old science fiction
  book.

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Inf. Phrase or Prep. Phrase?

• Be careful not to confuse infinitive phrases with
  prepositional phrases. Remember, if a verb
  follows to, you have an infinitive phrase. If a
  noun or pronoun follows to, you have a prep.
  phrase.
• Ex.
• Of all the planets, Mars is the most similar
  to Earth.
• It was easy to imagine creatures on Mars.
• Would you like to travel to Mars?

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Practice

• Refer to the chart on P. 175 of your textbook for
  additional help recognizing infinitives and inf.
  phrases.
• Do Not Copy This Part.
• Complete Ex. A on P. 177 of textbook. Identify
  the infinitive phrase in each sentence and label
  each as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.