Making Use of InfinitivesLesson 24

By Joseph C. Blumenthal

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).

The adjective healthy completes the meaning of the infinitive To be.

To be healthy is a great advantage.

The adjective healthy, therefore, is the (direct object, subject compliment) of the infinitive.

The adjective healthy completes the meaning of the infinitive To be.

To be healthy is a great advantage.

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.

The infinitive phrase completes the meaning of the linking verb is and identifies the subject plan.

Shirley Bluewind’s plan is to save money for law school.

The infinitive phrase, therefore, is a (direct object, subject complement).

The infinitive phrase completes the meaning of the linking verb is and identifies the subject plan.

Shirley Bluewind’s plan is to save money for law school.

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).

I want a chance to work.I want a chance to rest.I want a chance to play.I want a chance to travel.

In addition to being used as nouns, infinitives are also used as modifiers—both as adjectives and as adverbs.

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.

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 want a chance to work.I want a chance to rest.I want a chance to play.I want a chance to travel.

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.

Larry gave a cough. This was to prove that he was sick.

Larry gave a cough to prove that he was sick.

We can sometimes combine two sentences by changing one sentence to an infinitive phrase.

To change the italicized sentence to an infinitive phrase, we drop the words before the ________.

Larry gave a cough. (This was) to prove that he was sick.

Larry gave a cough to prove that he was sick.

We can sometimes combine two sentences by changing one sentence to an infinitive phrase.

To change the italicized sentence to an infinitive phrase, we drop the words before the infinitive.

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.

Change the italicized sentence to an infinitive phrase:

SAMPLE

Wendy touched the flowers to see if they were real.

Write the following answers on your own sheet of paper.

1.Vic’s dad set the clock ahead. This was to prevent Vic from being late.

Change the italicized sentence to an infinitive phrase:

2. Johnny’s ambition was typical of a child. It was to become a firefighter.

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.

3. We changed the italicized sentence to an infinitive phrase by changing the verb showed to the infinitive ___________.

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.

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.

Change the italicized sentence to an infinitive phrase.

6. Here we have replace the words Don’t nag with the infinitive ________.

Don’t nag a child to practice. It does no good.

To nag a child to practice does no good.

7. Don’t start eating before your host. It is bad manners.

Change the italicized sentence to an infinitive phrase.

a. To change one’s mind is no crime.b. It is no crime to change one’s mind.

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.

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.

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.

In this and the following frames, eliminate the and by changing the italicized statement to an infinitive phrase:

You are done!!!