Phrases – Part Three

Grade Seven

What is an Infinitive?

• An infinitive is a verbal.

• An infinitive begins with the word “to” and is followed by a verb.

• An infinitive can do many things that nouns can do in a sentence.

• An infinitive can also work as an adjective or adverb.

What do Infinitives Look Like?

• The underlined words are infinitives. Note that they begin with “to” and are followed by a verb.

-I want to go also.

-My goal is to win.

-To answer is difficult.

-The plan is to hide.

Infinitive Phrases

• An infinitive phrase begins with “to” and is followed by a verb. These words are then followed by additional words. Altogether these words form an infinitive phrase.

What Do Infinitive Phrases Look Like?

• The underlined words are infinitive phrases.

-The goal is to win the game.

-I wish to answer the question correctly.

-To relax at the beach is my dream!

-The person to speak with concerning that problem is the principal.

The Jobs of an Infinitive

• Infinitives have many jobs in a sentence. • As a noun, infinitives may work as:

– Subjects– Predicate Nouns– Direct Objects– Appositives– Objects of the Preposition

• Infinitives may also work as:-Adjectives-Adverbs

Infinitives Used as Subjects

• To find the subject of a sentence, find the actual verb in the sentence and ask “Who?” or “What?” before it.Ex. To tell jokes well is quite a talent.

The verb is “is.” When you ask, “What is a talent?” you get the answer “To tell jokes well.” Therefore, “To tell jokes well” is the subject of the sentence.

**Now the subject does NOT have to be just one word!

Infinitives Used as Predicate Nouns

• To find a predicate noun, you must have a linking verb or verb of condition. A predicate noun comes after a linking verb or verb of condition and renames the subject.Ex. My goal is to get my A.R. points.

“Is” is a linking verb. The subject of the sentence is “goal.” Coming after the linking verb is “to get my A.R. points” which renames the goal; therefore, “to get my A.R. points” is the predicate noun.

*Note that the predicate noun is now NOT just one word.

Infinitives Used as Direct Objects

• To find a direct object, first you must have an action verb. Ask “Who?” or “What?” after the action. If one of those questions is answered, you have found a direct object.

Ex. I like to swim in my pool.

The action verb is “like.” When asking “like what?” the answer is “to swim in my pool;” therefore, “to swim in my pool” is a direct object.

*Notice that the direct object is NOT just one word.

Infinitives Used as Objects of the Preposition

• To find an object of the preposition, first find a preposition. Then ask “Who?” or “What?” after the preposition.Ex. I forgot everything except to buy milk.

“Except” is a preposition. When the question “Except what?” is asked, the answer is “to buy milk.” That means that “to buy milk” is the object of the preposition.

**Please notice that the object of the preposition is no longer a single word.

Infinitives Used as Appositives

• An appositive comes after a noun and renames or explains it. Appositives are often set off by commas.Ex. My plans to buy a computer became a reality.“Plans” is a noun. It is immediately renamed by “to buy a computer;” therefore, “to buy a computer” is an appositive.

Infinitives Used As Adjectives

• An adjective describes a noun. An infinitive working as an adjective will then also describe a noun.

Ex. The puzzle to build has a thousand pieces!

“Puzzle” is a noun. When you ask “Which puzzle?” the answer is ‘to build.” That means that “to build” is describing the noun “puzzle” which makes it an adjective.

*Note that the adjective here is NOT just one word.

Infinitives Used as Adverbs

• An adverb describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb. Although adverbs are usually single word modifiers, infinitives used as adverbs will always be more than one word.Ex. It is hard to see during a heavy rainstorm.

“Hard” is an adjective that describes the subject “it.” “To see” tells how it was hard; therefore, “to see” describes the adjective which makes it an adverb.

Infinitives Look Different!

• Before this new verbal was learned, weren’t subjects always one word? Weren’t direct objects always one word?

• NOW that has changed! Infinitives will always be more than one word; therefore, when they work as subjects, direct objects, etc., those functions will always be more than one word!

How to Diagram Infinitives

• An infinitive is diagrammed on a pedestal. If the infinitive is a noun function (subject, direct object, predicate noun, object of the preposition, and appositive) the pedestal sits in the place of the noun function.

• An infinitive diagrammed as an adjective or adverb hangs on a tailless hockey stick underneath what it describes. The pedestal sits on the tailless hockey stick.

The Pedestal

• The pedestal looks like this:

Diagramming SubjectsTo tell jokes well is quite a talent.

quite

a

well

is talent

Diagramming Predicate Nouns• My goal is to get my A.R. points.

goal

My

ism

y

A. R.

Diagramming Direct Objects• I like to swim in my pool.

I like

in

my

pool 

Diagramming Objects of the Preposition

I forgot everything except to buy milk.

I forgot everything

except

Diagramming Appositives• My plans to buy a computer became a reality. (Remember, appositives are diagrammed in parenthesis.)

)plans

My

(

a

became reality

a

Diagramming AdjectivesThe puzzle to build has a thousand pieces! (Remember that adjectives are diagrammed underneath

what they describe.)

puzzle

The

has piecesa thousand

Diagramming AdverbsIt is hard to see during the rainstorm.

It is hard

duringrainstorm

the