What is an Infinitive Phrase?
An infinitive phrase is a group of words that begins with an infinitive (the base form of a verb preceded by "to") and includes any modifiers or objects. It functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb within a sentence, adding detail and clarity.
For example, in "to read a book," "to read" is the infinitive, and "a book" completes the phrase.
Understanding Infinitive Phrases
Definition of Infinitive Phrases: An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive— the base form of a verb—along with any modifiers or objects. It is different from a simple infinitive, which is just the base form of the verb.
Components of Infinitive Phrases: The main components include the infinitive and its accompanying words. For example, in "to run quickly," "to run" is the infinitive and "quickly" is the modifier.
Examples of Infinitive Phrases:
To eat breakfast
To write a letter
To help a friend
To learn new skills
To build a house
To fix the car
To solve the problem
To play the guitar
To watch a movie
To improve your English
Types of Infinitive Phrases
Subject Infinitive Phrases: Infinitive phrases can act as the subject of a sentence. For example, "To travel around the world is my dream." In this sentence, "To travel around the world" is the subject.
Object Infinitive Phrases: These phrases can also be the object of a verb. For instance, "She wants to learn French." Here, "to learn French" is the object of the verb "wants."
Adjective and Adverb Infinitive Phrases: Infinitive phrases can modify nouns (adjectives) or verbs (adverbs). For example:
"He has a book to read" (adjective modifying "book").
"She came to help" (adverb modifying "came").
Examples of Each Type:
Subject: To exercise daily is essential.
Object: He likes to swim in the ocean.
Adjective: The right time to start is now.
Adverb: She hurried to catch the bus.
Uses and Functions of Infinitive Phrases
Infinitive Phrases as Nouns: When used as nouns, infinitive phrases can be the subject, object, or complement. For example, "To dance gracefully is her goal."
Examples Illustrating Noun Usage:
To eat healthy food is important.
She hopes to visit Japan.
His dream is to become a doctor.
Infinitive Phrases as Adjectives: These phrases can describe a noun, adding detail. For instance, "The best time to visit is summer."
Examples:
The book to read is on the table.
He found a movie to watch.
The tool to use is in the garage.
Infinitive Phrases as Adverbs: They can modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing more information about the action or quality. For example, "He saved money to buy a car."
Examples:
She spoke softly to avoid waking the baby.
They moved to find better opportunities.
He trains hard to win the competition.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Splitting Infinitives: Avoid placing words between "to" and the verb. Instead of "to quickly run," say "to run quickly." Splitting infinitives can make sentences awkward and less clear.
Examples of Corrected Splitting Infinitives:
Incorrect: She decided to quickly finish her homework.
Correct: She decided to finish her homework quickly.
Misplacement of Infinitive Phrases: Ensure the phrase is placed correctly to avoid confusion. For instance, "He promised to call her" is clearer than "He promised her to call."
Examples of Correct Placement:
Incorrect: He wanted to see the movie really badly.
Correct: He really wanted to see the movie badly.
Additional Common Mistakes:
Using infinitives instead of gerunds: Incorrect: She enjoys to swim. Correct: She enjoys swimming.
Missing "to" in infinitives: Incorrect: He helps me understand. Correct: He helps me to understand.
Practice Exercises
Simple Practice Sentences:
Identify the infinitive phrase in: "She plans to visit her family."
Identify the infinitive phrase in: "He likes to play soccer."
Transforming Sentences:
Transform "She is learning" into a sentence with an infinitive phrase: "She wants to learn."
Transform "He is running" into a sentence with an infinitive phrase: "He likes to run."
Application in Writing: Write a short paragraph using at least three infinitive phrases. For example, "To succeed in business, you need to plan carefully, work hard, and adapt to change."
Additional Practice Sentences:
Combine these sentences using an infinitive phrase: "I have a report. I need to finish it."
"I have a report to finish."
Rewrite the sentence using an infinitive phrase: "He was happy when he received the news."
"He was happy to receive the news."