LESSON 36: INFINITIVE PHRASES - Amazon S3...LESSON 36: INFINITIVE PHRASES • Phrases are groups of words, without both a subject and a verb, functioning as single parts of speech.
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LESSON 36: INFINITIVE PHRASES • Phrases are groups of words, without both a subject and a verb, functioning as
single parts of speech.
• Infinitives are made of to + a verb, and they act as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.
If you mixed those two definitions together, you'd get infinitive phrases!
An infinitive phrase is made of an infinitive (to + a verb) and any word(s) that modify or complement it. The whole phrase acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
Examples: We drove to pass the time. I want to run marathons. I want to run with you.
To pass the time is an infinitive phrase acting as an adverb modifying drove. Why did we drive? We drove to pass the time.
To run marathons is an infinitive phrase acting as a noun. It is the direct object of want. What do I want? I want to run marathons.
To run with you is an infinitive phrase acting as a noun. It is the direct object of want. What do I want? I want to run with you.
Complements and Modifiers
Infinitives act as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Because they are formed from verbs, they maintain some of their "verbness" and can do many things that verbs can do.
We drove to pass the time.
To pass the time is an infinitive phrase. Time is a direct object of the infinitive to pass.
I want to run marathons.
To run marathons is an infinitive phrase. Marathons is the direct object of the infinitive to run. I want to run with you.
To run with you is an infinitive phrase. With you is a prepositional phrase modifying the infinitive to run.
Infinitives can take direct objects, predicate nouns, and predicate adjectives.
I waved to get his attention. sentence - statement
I subject (pronoun)
waved verb (intransitive complete)
to get his attention infinitive phrase (adverb)
to get infinitive
attention direct object of infinitive (noun)
his adjective
Extra Practice: Diagramming Infinitives & Infinitive Phrases Directions: Diagram the following sentences on a separate sheet of paper. Teachers, the answers are on the next page.
1. If you want to be a doctor, you must study for years.