English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases
Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define an infinitive and an infinitive phrase.
Accurately identify the 'to + base verb' formula of an infinitive.
Differentiate between an infinitive and a prepositional phrase beginning with 'to'.
Locate complete infinitive phrases, including their modifiers and complements.
Analyze the grammatical function of an infinitive phrase (noun, adjective, or adverb) within a complex sentence.
Apply knowledge of infinitives to create varied and sophisticated sentence structures in their own analytical writing.
What's your ultimate goal? To win the game? To change the world? 🏆 The grammatical tool you just used to express that purpose is the infinitive!
This tutorial will explore infinitives and infinitive phrases, a key type of verbal....
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
VerbalA word formed from a verb but functioning in a sentence as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.In 'Running is fun,' the word 'running' is a verbal (a gerund) acting as the subject.
InfinitiveA verbal consisting of the word 'to' plus the base form of a verb. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.to read, to think, to explore
Infinitive PhraseAn infinitive plus any modifiers (like adverbs) or complements (like direct objects) that are connected to it.In the sentence 'He wants to read the entire book,' the infinitive phrase is 'to read the entire book'.
ComplementA word or group of words that completes the meaning of a verbal. For an infinitive, this is often a direct object.In 'to write a novel,'...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The Infinitive Formula
to + base form of a verb
This is the fundamental structure of an infinitive. Always look for the word 'to' immediately followed by a simple, un-conjugated verb (e.g., not 'to running' or 'to ran', but 'to run').
The 'To' Test: Infinitive vs. Prepositional Phrase
If 'to' is followed by a verb, it's an infinitive. If 'to' is followed by a noun or pronoun, it's a prepositional phrase.
This is the most critical rule for accurate identification. 'To run' is an infinitive. 'To the store' is a prepositional phrase. They have completely different grammatical functions.
Functions of an Infinitive Phrase
An infinitive phrase can function as a noun (subject,...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Which sentence correctly uses an infinitive phrase to combine the ideas 'The author wrote the book. Her purpose was to expose social injustice.' into a more sophisticated structure?
A.The author wrote the book, and she wanted to expose social injustice.
B.To expose social injustice, the author wrote the book.
C.The author who wrote the book wanted to expose social injustice.
D.By writing the book, the author was exposing social injustice.
Challenging
In the sentence, 'The order to evacuate the city immediately came from the mayor's office,' what is the precise grammatical function of the infinitive phrase 'to evacuate the city immediately'?
A.Adverb, modifying the verb 'came'
B.Adjective, modifying the noun 'order'
C.Noun, acting as the subject of the sentence
D.Noun, acting as a direct object
Challenging
Which sentence uses an infinitive phrase as an ADVERB, and which uses one as an ADJECTIVE?
1. She needed a plan to succeed.
2. She worked hard to succeed.
A.1 is Adverb, 2 is Adjective
B.1 is Adjective, 2 is Adverb
C.Both are Adverbs
D.Both are Adjectives
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free