Lesson 224

Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adjective Infinitives

An infinitive is a verbalA verbal is a verb form used as some other part of speech.  Source: Lesson 206 that is to plus a verb form.  It can be used as an adjectiveAdjectives modify or affect the meaning of nouns and pronouns and tell us which, whose, what kind, and how many about the nouns or pronouns they modify. They come before the noun or pronoun they modify.  Source: Lesson 151.

Examples:
to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten

An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive and any complements (direct objectsA direct object receives the action performed by the subject. The verb used with a direct object is always an action verb. Another way of saying it is that the subject does the verb to the direct object.
Source: Lesson 109, predicate nominativesA predicate nominative or predicate noun completes a linking verb and renames the subject. It is a complement or completer because it completes the verb. Predicate nominatives complete only linking verbs. The verb in a sentence having a predicate nominative can always be replaced by the word equals.  Source: Lesson 102, predicate adjectivesAn adjective that comes after a linking verb and modifies the subject.
Source: Lesson 155, or modifiers) like the gerund.  An infinitive phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence is always followed by a comma and modifies the subjectThe subject tells who or what about the verb.  Source: Lesson 91 of the sentence.

 
 
 

Instructions: Find the infinitive phrases in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. Your idea to spend the day together sounds great.

2. Joe is the man to see about the job.

3. We have no reason to doubt your sincerity.

4. This must be the best route to take.

5. Your attitude is the best attitude to have.

Related links: Lessons 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, and 225 - Quiz