English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases
Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases
What you'll learn
- Identify infinitives within sentences with 80% accuracy.
- Differentiate between infinitives and other verb forms (e.g., gerunds, participles) in context with at least 75% accuracy on a formative assessment.
- Construct five original sentences, each containing a correctly formed and appropriately used infinitive phrase.
- Explain the function of infinitive phrases as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in given sentences, providing accurate justifications in at least 3 out of 4 examples.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define an infinitive and an infinitive phrase.
Distinguish infinitives from prepositional phrases beginning with 'to'.
Accurately identify infinitives within various sentence structures.
Identify complete infinitive phrases, including their modifiers and objects.
Explain the grammatical function (noun, adjective, adverb) of infinitives and infinitive phrases.
Analyze complex sentences to locate and interpret the role of infinitive phrases.
Ever wonder how writers add depth and purpose to their sentences without always using a main verb? 🤔 Let's unlock the secret of infinitives!
In this lesson, you'll learn to identify infinitives and the powerful phrases they form, which are essential tools for expressing purpose, desire, and more. U...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
InfinitiveThe base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word 'to,' that functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.She loves *to read* mystery novels.
Infinitive PhraseAn infinitive along with all its modifiers, objects, or complements, functioning as a single part of speech (noun, adjective, or adverb) within a sentence.He wants *to finish his project quickly*.
VerbalA word formed from a verb but functioning as a different part of speech (noun, adjective, or adverb) in a sentence. Infinitives are one type of verbal.Gerunds, participles, and infinitives are all types of verbals.
'To' as a Preposition vs. Infinitive MarkerThe word 'to' can be a preposition when followed by a noun or pronoun (e.g., 'to the store'), or it...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'To + Base Verb' Rule
An infinitive is almost always formed by the word 'to' immediately followed by the base (unconjugated) form of a verb.
Look for this specific two-word pattern. The verb will not have -s, -ed, or -ing endings. For example: 'to run,' 'to eat,' 'to think.'
Distinguishing 'To' Phrases
If 'to' is followed by a noun or pronoun, it's a prepositional phrase. If 'to' is followed by the base form of a verb, it's an infinitive.
This is the most crucial step. Test what follows 'to'. If it's a person, place, or thing, it's a preposition. If it's an action word in its simplest form, it's an infinitive.
Identifying the Full Infinitive Phrase...
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Challenging
In which sentence does the infinitive phrase function as an adverb modifying a verb by explaining the purpose or reason ('why')?
A.The best way to learn is by doing.
B.To win the championship is their only goal.
C.She has the authority to approve the request.
D.He saved his money to buy a new computer.
Challenging
Analyze the sentence: "After finishing his chores, his only remaining task was to take out the garbage." Which statement provides the most accurate and complete analysis of the infinitive phrase?
A.The phrase "to take" is an adverb modifying 'was'.
B.The phrase "to take out the garbage" is an adjective modifying 'task'.
C.The phrase "finishing his chores" is the infinitive phrase.
D.The phrase "to take out the garbage" is a noun (predicate nominative) renaming 'task'.
Challenging
Consider the sentence: "The manager gave the team a difficult assignment to complete by Friday." What is the function of the infinitive phrase "to complete by Friday"?
A.Adjective, modifying the noun 'assignment'.
B.Adverb, modifying the verb 'gave'.
C.Noun, acting as an indirect object.
D.Noun, acting as a direct object.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases"?
Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases is a Grade 8 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases?
You'll be able to: Identify infinitives within sentences with 80% accuracy; Differentiate between infinitives and other verb forms (e.g., gerunds, participles) in context with at least 75% accuracy on a formative assessment; Construct five….
Is "Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.