Download Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases

Written by Gary Martin
Illustrated by Phillip Martin
An infinitive is a
present tense verb
and the word “to”
normally comes
before it.
An infinitive is often
used as a noun serving
as a subject, a direct
object, or a predicate
noun.
For example:
To win the match is
Tony’s goal. The
infinitive, to win, is
the subject.
For example:
He hopes to win.
Here the infinitive,
to win, is used as
a direct object.
For example:
Joe’s goal is to win the game.
The infinitive phrase to win the
game states what the goal is
so it is a predicate noun.
Can you find the infinitives or infinitive phrases in
the following sentences and determine whether
they are the subject, the direct object or a
predicate noun?
The purpose of
dessert is to eat
sugar.
The purpose of
dessert is to eat
sugar.
The infinitive phrase,
to eat sugar, is
describing the subject
of the sentence
which is the word
purpose. That makes
it a predicate noun.
Would you like to paint a mural in Africa?
Would you like to paint a mural in Africa?
To paint a mural in
Africa is the direct
object because it is
receiving the action
of the verb like.
To finish this term paper by Wednesday
requires a loss of a lot of sleep.
To finish this term paper by Wednesday
requires a loss of a lot of sleep.
The infinitive
phrase, to finish
this term paper is
the subject of the
sentence.
It’s the driver’s
goal, and not the
students’, to remain
calm on the drive.
It’s the driver’s
goal, and not the
students’, to remain
calm on the drive.
To remain calm is
the goal. It’s a
predicate noun.
It’s the driver’s
goal, and not the
students’, to remain
calm on the drive.
The End.
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