A verb is a word that

expresses an action or a
state of being.

A verbal is a word formed

from a verb but functions as
a different part of speech.
Three Kinds of Verbals
Gerund
Infinitives
Participle
Infinitives
• To learn is very important.
• The most important thing is
not to give up.
• To go to college is a good idea.
• To fix a broken man requires
patience.
• Do you swear to tell the truth?
• Everyone wants to enjoy life.
• To cheat is a sign of weakness.
• Infinitives are
constructed by using
•

• They are used as a noun, an

adjective or an adverb.
 Infinitive Phrases
• Infinitive phrases begin with
an infinitive, and sometimes
include modifiers and/or
objects that make the phrase
more descriptive.
Parts of Infinitive Phrases
A. Infinitives
• The main, most essential part of an
infinitive phrase is an infinitive.
To study (to + study)
To play (to + play)
To leave (to + leave)
To eat (to + eat)
 b. Objects
• An object is the word (a noun or a pronoun)
affected by the verb in a sentence. So, in
an infinitive phrase, it’s the word being
affected by the infinitive.
• Here are some examples of objects in
infinitive phrases:
To study math
To play guitar
To leave the party
To eat a sandwich
c. Modifiers
• A modifier is an adjective or adverb that alters
other words in a sentence, making it more
descriptive. Here are some examples:
To study advanced math
Adjective modifying “math”
To eat a giant sandwich
Adjective modifying “sandwich”
To play guitar beautifully
Adverb modifying “to play”
To leave the party quietly
Adverb modifying “to leave”
INFINITIVES
AS A NOUN
• It can do everything that
a noun does

• Subject
•Direct object
•Subjective Complement
• Object of a preposition
•Appositive
Infinitives as the
Subject
 Infinitive as the Subject
Subject Verb

•To fly an airplane is

a dream of mine.
 Infinitive as the Subject
Subject

• To sleep and to rest

Verb are the things Eli

want after his double

shift.
 Infinitive as the Subject
Subject Verb

• To help you makes me

happy.
 Infinitive as the Subject
Subject Verb
• To know her is to love
her.
 Infinitive as the Subject
Subject
• To understand statistics,
that was our aim.
Verb
 Infinitive as the Subject
Subject
• To travel around the world
requires a lot of time and
money. Verb
Give an infinitive / infinitive
phrase to complete the
sentence.
1. _______ advice is easy.
2. _______ this direction may be difficult.
3. _______ in that sea may be dangerous.
4. _______ very fast here is not advisable.
Infinitive as Direct
Object
 Direct Objects are the receiver
of the action of the main verb.

 We all want to see.

Infinitive as a Direct Object
Verb
Jim always forgets
to eat.
Direct Object
Infinitive as a Direct Object
verb
He needs to ace the
exam. Direct Object
Infinitive as a Direct Object
verb
She likes to help
you.
Direct Object
• Some students want to dance.
• She likes to shop.
• Elle loves to plant seeds.
• Bob likes to study at midnight.
• I want to know the answer.
• He always refuses to look up.
Give an infinitive/ infinitive phrase
to complete the sentence.

1. Most teenagers enjoy _______.

2. Many boys dislike _______.
3. My mother choose _______.
4. My teacher dislikes _______.
Infinitive as Subjective
Complement
 Infinitive as Subject Complement
Subject Complement is a noun that
appears with a linking verb and
tells something about the subject.

• My greatest ambition
is to climb Mt. Everest.
 Infinitive as Subject
Complement
Subject
[Link] favorite hobby
is to sing.
Linking Subject
Verb
Complement
 Infinitive as Subject
Complement
Subject
2. My least favorite chore
is to clean the bathroom.
LV Subject
Complement
 Infinitive as Subject
Complement
Subject
3. My goal is to write.
LV
Subject
Complement
• Lucy’s favorite activity is
to solve math problems.
• Rina’s pastime is to swim.
• Her desires are
to help poor people and to serve
the country.
• My plan is to travel.
Infinitive as Object of
Preposition
("Except" and “but" are really about the only
prepositions with which you can have an
infinitive phrase as an object of a
preposition.)
Infinitive as Object of Preposition
Verb
I want nothing but
to save. preposition

Infinitive
Infinitive as Object of Preposition

Verb
Pedrito had no choice
except to run away.
preposition Infinitive
Infinitive as Object of Preposition
preposition
Verb
He had no choice but
to obey.
Infinitive
Appositive
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that
renames another noun right beside it.
 Infinitive as an
Appositive Infinitive

• Her desire, to help you,

may soon be realized.
Infinitive as an Appositive

Infinitive

• My hope, to travel,
never happened.
Infinitive as an Appositive
Infinitive

• Their terrible goal, to kill,

failed.
• It can do everything that a
noun does
• Subject
• Direct object
• Subjective Complement
• Object of a preposition
• Appositive
 Infinitive as an
Adjective
• An infinitive used as an adjective always describes
a noun.
• An adjectival infinitive always follows the noun it
describes.
Infinitive as an Adjective

• I want a tutor to help me study.

Noun being Infinitive
Modified
 Infinitive as an Adjective
• I need a magazine to read on the train.
Noun being
Infinitive
Modified
 Infinitive as an Adjective

There is a basket to put your exam in.

Noun being Infinitive
Modified
 Infinitive as an Adjective

I wish I had a friend to study with me.

Noun being
Infinitive
Modified

(Describes the friend)

 Infinitive as an
Adverb
Adverbs answer questions like where, when,
why, how, and for what reason/purpose, so, as
an adverb, the infinitive will answer the same
questions.
 Infinitive as an Adverb

I went home to study for math.

Infinitive

Why did you go home?

 Infinitive as an Adverb

He sat down to take the exam.

Infinitive

For what reason did he sit down?

 Infinitive as an Adverb

To get into college, you need good

grades. Infinitive

Why do you need good grades?

 Infinitive as an Adverb

To top the exam, I studied for

hours. Infinitive

For what purpose did you study?

• It can do everything that
a noun does

 Subject
 Direct object
 Subjective Complement
 Object of a preposition
 Appositive
Infinitive as the Subject To fly an airplane is a
dream of mine.

Infinitive as the Direct Jim always forgets

to eat.
Object

Infinitive as the Subject My favorite hobby is

Complement to sing.

Infinitive as the Object I want nothing but

Preposition to save.

Infinitive as an Her desire, to help you,

may soon be realized.
Appositive
Infinitive as the Subject To fly an airplane is a
dream of mine.

Infinitive as the Direct Object Jim always forgets

to eat.

Infinitive as the Subject Complement

My favorite hobby is
to sing.
Infinitive as the Object Preposition
I want nothing but
to save.
Infinitive as an Appositive Her desire, to help you,
may soon be realized.
Infinitive as the Subject To fly an airplane is a
dream of mine.

Infinitive as the Direct Object Jim always forgets

to eat.

Infinitive as the Subject Complement

My favorite hobby is
to sing.
Infinitive as the Object Preposition
I want nothing but
to save.
Infinitive as an Appositive Her desire, to help you,
may soon be realized.
Infinitive as an I want a tutor to help me
study.
Adjective

Infinitive as an I went home to study for

math.
Adverb
(Why did you go
home?)
Activity: Find the infinitive
or infinitive phrases in the
following sentences and tell
how they are used
(subject, direct object,
appositive, object of the
preposition, subject
complement, adjective or
adverb).
1. Claudio left early to meet his brother.
2. Haley's dream is to revisit Europe.
3. To collect the entire series of presidential cards is
my goal
4. All the students were excited to display their
artwork.
5. Kate's determination to teach well is quite obvious.

6. Patsy likes to listen to Broadway tunes.

7. We walked to the pizza parlor to buy some Italian
hero sandwiches
8. My relatives were the most important people to
invite to the ceremony.
9. Eloise did try to call you last night.
[Link] was very excited to participate in the
contest.