English

Practical English Grammar


the infinitive and infinitive phrase


➲The third type of verbal, in addition to the participle and the gerund,
is the infinitive. An infinitive is composed of the word to plus a verb.
Examples of the infinitive include to remember, to cuddle, to pacify,
and to yodel.
Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

To succeed is Ted’s goal. (noun—subject of the sentence)
Franklin’s goal was to succeed. (noun—predicate nominative)
Melissa wanted to succeed. (noun—direct object)
Kelly has the drive to succeed. (adjective—Which drive? the drive
to succeed)
Kelly will endeavor to succeed. (adverb—How will Kelly endeavor?
to succeed)

➲ An infinitive phrase is composed of the infinitive, its modifiers (or
describers), and all the other words that are needed to complete the idea
begun by the infinitive.

To stay up later was the child’s wish. (noun—subject)
Lorene desired to be a doctor. (noun—direct object)
My cousin’s goal was to make the New York Yankees. (noun—
predicate nominative)
Henry’s ultimate goal was to make other people happy. (noun—
predicate nominative)
The musical to see is Oklahoma! (adjective—Which musical?
Oklahoma!)
The strong lifeguard swam out to save the struggling swimmer.
(adverb—Why did the lifeguard swim out? to save the struggling
swimmer)

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Notes


Practical English Grammar - Notes
1. Italics Hyphens and Brackets
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2. Quotation Marks Part Three
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3. compound subjects part two
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4. Using Capital Letters
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5. the indirect object
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6. what good writers do
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7. the adjective clause
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8. the adverb
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9. personal pronouns
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10. Quotation Marks Part Two
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11. Commas Part Three
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12. The Apostrophe
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13. Sound a like words Part Two
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14. the prepositional phrase
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15. Confusing usage words part two
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16. Second Capitalization List
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17. The Colon
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18. complex sentences
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19. The coordinating conjunction
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20. the direct object
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21. Commas Part Five
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22. irregular verbs part two
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23. the adverb clause
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24. singular and plural nouns and pronouns
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25. sentences fragments and run on sentences
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26. Confusing usage words part three
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27. Transitive and intransitive verbs
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28. Periods Question Marks and Exclamation Marks
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29. complete and simple subjects
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30. Indefinite pronouns and the possessive case
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31. Confusing usage words part seven
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32. Commas Part One
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33. complete and simple predicates
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34. the object of the preposition
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35. the pronoun
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36. Confusing usage words part eight
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37. Sound a like words Part Four
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38. the interjection
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39. types of nouns
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40. reflexive demonstrative and interrogative pronouns
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41. Parentheses Ellipsis Marks and Dashes
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42. The possessive case
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43. irregular verbs part one
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44. agreement involving prepositional phrases
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45. the noun
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46. the adjective
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47. The possessive case
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48. Confusing usage words part one
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49. Sound alike words part one
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50. compound complex sentences
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