Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases
Infinitives
An infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Most infinitives begin with to, but occasionally the word to is omitted.
EXAMPLES
- Is it time to go? [The infinitive to go is used as an adjective to modify time.]
- Try to exercise daily. [The infinitive to exercise is used as a noun. The infinitive phrase is the direct object of the verb Try.]
- Your next task is to lift this crate. [The infinitive to lift is used as a noun. The infinitive phrase is the predicate nominative of the verb is.]
TIP
Remember that the word to is often used as a preposition.
- If to is followed by a noun or pronoun, to is a preposition.
- If to is followed by a verb, to is the sign of the infinitive.
INFINITIVES
- to permit
- to count
- to observe
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
EXAMPLES
- To apply a good coat of paint, sand and clean the surface first. [The infinitive To apply has a direct object, coat. Coat is modified by a and good and by the prepositional phrase of paint. The whole infinitive phrase functions as an adverb modifying the verbs sand and clean.]
- My little brother is easy to put to bed. [The infinitive to put is modified by the prepositional phrase to bed. The whole phrase functions as an adverb modifying the adjective easy.]
NOTE
In formal speech and writing it is best to avoid “splitting infinitives.” An infinitive is “split” if a modifying word or words come between the sign of the infinitive, to, and the verb.
SPLIT INFINITIVE
- My parents plan to soon buy a new computer.
REVISED
- My parents plan to buy a new computer soon.