Infinitives

First and foremost, an infinitive is the form of the verb, but it is not a verb. Second, an infinitive can be a noun, an adjective or an adverb. And finally, it is always "to" plus a verb.

[In the following examples, the infinitive is bold and the verb is underlined.]

• Supporters of the Internet fail to mention that it contains a lot of trash packaged to look like reliable information.
  • The subject is SUPPORTERS. The verb is FAIL. The infinitive TO MENTION is the object of the verb. Therefore, it is a noun.
    
    
• Students need to learn the parts of speech.
  • The subject is STUDENTS. The verb is NEED. The infinitive TO LEARN is the object of the verb. Therefore, it is a noun.
    
    
• The ants have arrived to grab the leftovers from the picnic.
  • The subject is ANTS. The verb is HAVE ARRIVED. The infinitive TO GRAB is an adverb explaining why or where they have arrived.
    
    
• That attorney has the right to represent you.
  • The subject is ATTORNEY. The verb is HAS. RIGHT is the object of the verb and the infinitive TO REPRESENT is an adjective telling us what kind of right.
    
    
• Lawsuits are useful to punish corporations or to represent consumers.
  • The subject is LAWYERS. The verb is ARE. USEFUL is type of adjective known as a predicate adjective and the infinitive TO PUNISH and TO REPRESENT are adverbs modifying that adjective.
    
    
• Farmers are splicing genes and manipulating seeds to create more robust plants.
  • The subject is FARMERS. The verbs are ARE SPLICING and MANIPULATING. TO CREATE tells us why they are doing this. Therefore, it is an adverb.

To do a practice exercise for verbals, go to the next page.