1. Infinitives The final verbal…..

2. Infinitives  are verbals which means they are verbs that act as other parts of speech.  Remember the other verbals? –Participles act as ADJECTIVES. –Gerunds act as NOUNS, which in turn act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, objects of prepositions, and appositives.

3. Infinitives  act as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs  An infinitive is the TO form of a verb  The infinitive of run… is TO RUN  The infinitive of scream… is TO SCREAM  The infinitive of eat… is TO EAT

4. WARNING  Please note the difference between the following!  To THE MALL and to swim  One is an infinitive, and the other is a prepositional phrase. Do NOT get these confused.  If “to” is followed by a noun or pronoun, then it is a prepositional phrase. VERBALS ARE ABOUT VERBS!  If “to” is followed by a noun or pronoun, then it is a prepositional phrase. VERBALS ARE ABOUT VERBS!

5. Infinitives as Nouns Look at the following! First, find the infinitive that is being used as a noun, and then determine which role it is playing! Look at the following! First, find the infinitive that is being used as a noun, and then determine which role it is playing!

6.  To err is human.  To err is human. Subject  Riff always wanted to act.  Riff always wanted to act. Direct object

7. Infinitives as Adjectives Like all adjectives, infinitives acting as adjectives modify NOUNS or PRONOUNS!  The candidate to trust is Tony.  Note that the infinitive is to trust and that it is modifying or describing candidate.

8. More adjective examples….  Those are the easiest dogs to train.  Those are the easiest dogs to train. (note that to train modifies DOGS.  He has a great ability to paint.  He has a great ability to paint. (To paint modifies ability, which is a noun.)

9. Infinitives as Adverbs  Infinitives also act as adverbs; they must modify VERBS, ADJECTIVES, or other ADVERBS.  They act like adverb prepositional phrases.

10. Infinitives as Adverbs  Consider these examples….  The team was slow to score.  To score modifies the word “slow.” Slow is an adjective.  My grandmother has come to stay.  To stay modifies the verb, come.

11. Now…. YOU TRY!!! First, find the infinitive and then determine how it is functioning in the sentence!   We were asked to memorize this poem.   He was eager to experience college.   The person to help you is Doc!   To leave town is relaxing!

12. Did you get them right?   We were asked to memorize this poem. DO   He was eager to experience college. Adv.   The person to help you is Doc! Adj.   To leave town is relaxing! Subj.