To Infinitives and Beyond

Infinitives and Beyond Learning to Use Verbals

Reading and Discussion

What is a sentence without a verb? Every sentence needs a verb. Verbs are the action words in a sentence. They tell us what the subject does. They can also tell us about a state of being or what the subject is.

 Dad and Sam fly the kite every Saturday.

Fly is the action word. It tells what Dad and Sam do. They fly the kite.

Sometimes verbs do not act like verbs at all. They act like other parts of speech such as nouns, adjectives or adverbs. When this happens, the verb is called a verbal. There are three kinds of verbals: infinitives, gerunds, and participles.

Infinitives are verb forms that can be used as nouns, adjectives or adverbs. An infinitive combines the word to with the base form of a verb. For example: to walk, to study, to fly, to dance, are all infinitives.

 To fly a kite in the State Fair is Janet’s greatest ambition.

To fly is the infinitive in the subject of the infinitive phrase, “to fly a kite in the State Fair”. To fly is used as a noun. It is the subject of the verb is.

 Here is a book to color.

To color is used as an adjective. It describes the book. What book? The book to color.

 Janet played to win.

To win is used as an adverb. Adverbs usually tell us how, when, or where an action is done. How did Janet play? She played to win.

Even when infinitives act like another part of speech, they keep their verb traits. Infinitives are still verbs. They express action or state of being, but they are never the main verb in a sentence. Infinitives can take a direct object and they can be modified by an adverb just like a regular verb.

 Mark’s greatest wish was to play the tuba.

To play is the infinitive. Tuba is the direct object. Was is the verb.

Activities

Activity A: Let’s Review. Write the answers on the lines below.

1. Infinitives can act like these three parts of speech. What are they? a) ______b).______c) ______.

2. What tiny word is combined with a base verb to become an infinitive? ______

Activity B: Infinitives are used as either nouns, adjectives or adverbs. Can you find and underline all the infinitives used below?

1. To win the drawing contest was Amy’s secret wish.

2. Here is the pitcher to fill.

3. Marian played to win.

4. I want to sail my boat this summer.

5. Here is a book to keep.

6. To pass the history test is John’s hope.

Activity C: Write a sentence using the infinitive to run as the subject of the sentence.

______

Answer Key

Activity A

1. Infinitives can act like these three parts of speech. What are they? a) nouns, b) adjectives c) adverbs.

2. What tiny word is combined with a base verb to become an infinitive? to.

Activity B