Infinitives

Infinitives are verbals that are made up of the word to and a verb

Infinitives may only function as nouns, adjectives or adverbs

When infinitives function as adjectives and adverbs, they usually found preceding nouns and pronouns in

sentences

When infinitives function as nouns, they are used as subjects, direct

objects and objects of prepositions.

Infinitives functioning as NOUNS

To err is human; To forgive is divine. (subject)

I intended to punch her. (direct object)

Infinitives functioning as ADJECTIVES

M3 is the best class to admire.I always bring a calculator to use in

case of emergencies.

Infinitives functioning as ADVERBS

Ting must drink the rat poison to die.To win the pageant, Genalyn must

answer the questions perfectly.

Infinitive phrase functioning as NOUN

Ione loves to kill cockroaches.Leah agreed to give Jerry a kiss.

Infinitive phrase functioning as ADJECTIVE

Thea has a love letter to read after class.

I was the last boy in school to learn the alphabet.

Infinitives (to + verb) should not be confused with prepositional phrases

(to + noun/pronoun)

Infinitives may occur as either a to + one verb or a part of an infinitive

phrase