Infinitives

1. Infinitives Click on the speaker icon to hear an audio presentation in addition to viewing the slide presentation.

2. How Infinitives Function in a Sentence • Infinitives and infinitive phrases function in one of three ways: • Noun • Adverb • Adjective

3. Infinitives as Adverbs • Does the infinitive phrase (read it aloud) tell me “Why?” and then read the rest of the sentence. • Dad drove to the store to buy a shirt.

4. Infinitives as Adverbs • The train stopped to prevent an accident with the workers. • The boy ran to the corner to greet his father. • The dog jumped the fence to fetch the ball.

5. Infinitives as Adjectives • If the infinitive or infinitive phase is an adjective, it will modify the noun or the pronoun to its left and tell “Which one?” or “What kind?” • His efforts to save the cub were in vain. • The writer has a unique ability to convey evil characters.

6. Infinitives with Subjects • He wants me to attend the meeting on Wednesday. • The coach wanted the quarterback to throw the wide receiver a short pass.

7. Summary • Infinitives function as • Nouns (sub, do, op, pn) • Adverbs ( tell “why?” or come after a pa) • Adjectives (tell “which one?” or “what kind?” • This powerpoint presentation was designed to show how infinitives and infinitive phrases functions as adjectives and adverbs.

8. Summary • Infinitives can be used with gerunds and participles and other infinitives: • The doctor’s orders to stop smoking was difficult to do. • The father wanted to watch his son play football. • Wishing to avoid an argument Debra left the room. • He wanted to pet the dog lying on the floor. Adjective modifies orders Direct object of the first infinitive/ first infinitive is DO of wanted Direct object of the participle Direct object of the verb wanted…lying…participle that modifies dog