
Infinitives are the forms of verbs most
commonly listed in the dictionary. If you
should look up the words grew and
broken, the dictionary would refer you to
the words grow and _____.

Infinitives are the forms of verbs most
commonly listed in the dictionary. If you
should look up the words grew and
broken, the dictionary would refer you to
the words grow and break.


An infinitive is the basic form of a verb
from which all other forms are derived.
The infinitive is usually combined with the
preposition to; for example, to walk, to
drive, to sleep.
The infinitive from which the verbs flew,
flying, and flown are derived is __ __.


An infinitive is the basic form of a verb
from which all other forms are derived.
The infinitive is usually combined with the
preposition to; for example, to walk, to
drive, to sleep.
The infinitive from which the verbs flew,
flying, and flown are derived is to fly.

An infinitive—like a gerund—is often used
to name an action. It is often
interchangeable with a gerund.
GERUND: Walking is good exercise.
INFINITIVE: To walk is good exercise.
Both the gerund and the infinitive are
use as nouns. Each is the ______ of the
verb is.

An infinitive—like a gerund—is often used
to name an action. It is often
interchangeable with a gerund.
GERUND: Walking is good exercise.
INFINITIVE: To walk is good exercise.
Both the gerund and the infinitive are
use as nouns. Each is the subject of
the verb is.

Fill the blank with the infinitive form of
traveling:
GERUND: Traveling broadens the mind.
INFINITVE: _______ broadens the mind.

Fill the blank with the infinitive form of
traveling:
GERUND: Traveling broadens the mind.
INFINITVE: To travel broadens the mind.

Fill the blank with the infinitive form of
traveling:
GERUND: Her favorite sport is swimming.
INFINITVE: Her favorite sport is _______.

Fill the blank with the infinitive form of
traveling:
GERUND: Her favorite sport is swimming.
INFINITVE: Her favorite sport is to swim.

Like participles and gerunds, infinitives
can take direct object and subject
complements, as no ordinary noun can
do.
To waste food is sinful.
Because the noun food receives the
action of the infinitive to waste, it is its
(direct object, subject complement).

Like participles and gerunds, infinitives
can take direct object and subject
complements, as no ordinary noun can
do.
To waste food is sinful.
Because the noun food receives the
action of the infinitive to waste, it is its
(direct object, subject complement).
To be healthy is a great advantage.

The adjective healthy completes the
meaning of the infinitive To be.
The adjective healthy, therefore, is the
(direct object, subject compliment) of
the infinitive.
To be healthy is a great advantage.

The adjective healthy completes the
meaning of the infinitive To be.
The adjective healthy, therefore, is the
(direct object, subject compliment) of
the infinitive.

Since an infinitive is a mixture of both a
verb and a noun, it may be modified by
an adverb.
Test pilots like to live dangerously.
The adverb dangerously modifies the
infinitive _____.

Since an infinitive is a mixture of both a verb
and a noun, it may be modified by an adverb.
Test pilots like to live dangerously.
The adverb dangerously modifies the
infinitive to live.

The phrase formed by infinitives with their
related words are called infinitive
phrases. These phrases can be used in
most of the ways that nouns are used.
To teach a dog tricks requires endless patience.
The infinitive phrase is used as the
_______ of the verb requires.

The phrase formed by infinitives with their
related words are called infinitive
phrases. These phrases can be used in
most of the ways that nouns are used.
To teach a dog tricks requires endless patience.
The infinitive phrase is used as the
subject of the verb requires.
Shirley Bluewind’s plan is to save money
for law school.

The infinitive phrase completes the
meaning of the linking verb is and
identifies the subject plan.
The infinitive phrase, therefore, is a
(direct object, subject complement).
Shirley Bluewind’s plan is to save money
for law school.

The infinitive phrase completes the
meaning of the linking verb is and
identifies the subject plan.
The infinitive phrase, therefore, is a
(direct object, subject complement).
A good citizen does not refuse to be a
witness.
The infinitive phrase is used as a (direct
object, subject complement).
A good citizen does not refuse to be a
witness.
The infinitive phrase is used as a (direct
object, subject complement).
In addition to being used as nouns,
infinitives are also used as modifiers—
both as adjectives and as adverbs.
I want a chance to work.
I want a chance to rest.
I want a chance to play.
I want a chance to travel.
Each sentence means a different kind
of chance because the _______ is
different in each sentence.
In addition to being used as nouns,
infinitives are also used as modifiers—
both as adjectives and as adverbs.
I want a chance to work.
I want a chance to rest.
I want a chance to play.
I want a chance to travel.
Each sentence means a different kind
of chance because the infinitive is
different in each sentence.
I want a chance to work.
I want a chance to rest.
I want a chance to play.
I want a chance to travel.
Each infinitive in the above sentences
modifies the noun ________.
I want a chance to work.
I want a chance to rest.
I want a chance to play.
I want a chance to travel.
Each infinitive in the above sentences
modifies the noun chance.
I learned a new way to play checkers.
The infinitive phrase to play checkers
modifies the noun ____.
I learned a new way to play checkers.
The infinitive phrase to play checkers
modifies the noun way.
I learned a new way to play checkers.
Because the infinitive phrase modifies
the noun way, it is used as an
_________.
I learned a new way to play checkers.
Because the infinitive phrase modifies
the noun way, it is used as an
adjective.
I learned a new way to play checkers.
We have seen that the infinitive to play,
like an ordinary adjective, modifies the
noun way.
The fact that the infinitive to play can at
the same time take the direct object
checkers shows that an infinitive can
also do the job of a _____.
I learned a new way to play checkers.
We have seen that the infinitive to play,
like an ordinary adjective, modifies the
noun way.
The fact that the infinitive to play can at
the same time take the direct object
checkers shows that an infinitive can
also do the job of a verb.
I learned a new way to play checkers.
I learned a new way of playing checkers.
One sentence contains a gerund
phrase; the other an infinitive phrase.
Which sentence contains an infinitive
phrase? (a, b)
I learned a new way to play checkers.
I learned a new way of playing checkers.
One sentence contains a gerund
phrase; the other an infinitive phrase.
Which sentence contains an infinitive
phrase? (a, b)
Lyle ran to catch the bus.
The infinitive phrase to catch the bus
explains why about the verb ____.
Lyle ran to catch the bus.
The infinitive phrase to catch the bus
explains why about the verb ran.
Lyle ran to catch the bus.
Because the infinitive phrase modifies
the verb ran, it is used as an _______.
Lyle ran to catch the bus.
Because the infinitive phrase modifies
the verb ran, it is used as an adverb.
We can sometimes combine two
sentences by changing one sentence
to an infinitive phrase.
Larry gave a cough. This was to prove
that he was sick.
Larry gave a cough to prove that he
was sick.
To change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase, we drop the words
before the ________.
We can sometimes combine two
sentences by changing one sentence
to an infinitive phrase.
Larry gave a cough. (This was) to prove
that he was sick.
Larry gave a cough to prove that he
was sick.
To change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase, we drop the words
before the infinitive.
Change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase:
SAMPLE
Wendy touched the flowers. She wanted
to see if they were real.
Change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase:
SAMPLE
Wendy touched the flowers. She wanted
to see if they were real.
Wendy touched the flowers to see if they
were real.
Write the following answers on your own
sheet of paper.
Change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase:
1.Vic’s dad set the clock ahead. This was
to prevent Vic from being late.
Change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase. After changing the
italicized sentence to an infinitive
phrase, insert it in the sentence next to
the noun it modifies.
2. Johnny’s ambition was typical of a
child. It was to become a firefighter.
Jerry pounded the table once again.
This showed that he was his own boss.
Jerry pounded the table once again to
show that he was his own boss.
3. We changed the italicized sentence to
an infinitive phrase by changing the verb
showed to the infinitive ___________.
Change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase.
4. We boiled our drinking water. This killed
all the bacteria.
Change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase.
5. Always keep receipts. They will prove
that you have paid your bills.
Don’t nag a child to practice. It does no
good.
To nag a child to practice does no good.
6. Here we have replace the words Don’t
nag with the infinitive ________.
Change the italicized sentence to an
infinitive phrase.
7. Don’t start eating before your host. It is
bad manners.
A sentence with an infinitive phrase as
subject may sound stiff and formal. We
can move the phrase to the end of
the sentence, putting an introductory
It in its place.
a.
b.
To change one’s mind is no crime.
It is no crime to change one’s mind.
8. Which sentence sounds more informal?
(a, b)
9. To beat a dead horse does no good.
Rewrite this sentence, moving the infinitive
phrase to the end of the sentence and
putting an introductory It in its place.
In this and the following frames, eliminate
the and by changing the italicized
statement to an infinitive phrase:
10. I have a job, and I must finish it before
dinner.
In this and the following frames, eliminate
the and by changing the italicized
statement to an infinitive phrase:
11. We sent out cards, and these
reminded members of the meeting.
In this and the following frames, eliminate
the and by changing the italicized
statement to an infinitive phrase:
12. The city issued a request, and it was
to refrain from wasting water.
In this and the following frames, eliminate
the and by changing the italicized
statement to an infinitive phrase:
13. We are planning a pageant, and it will
dramatize the history of our town.
You are done!!!