Phrases – Part Three Grade Seven. What is an Infinitive? An infinitive is a verbal. An infinitive...
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Transcript of Phrases – Part Three Grade Seven. What is an Infinitive? An infinitive is a verbal. An infinitive...
What is an Infinitive?
• An infinitive is a verbal.
• An infinitive begins with the word “to” and is followed by a verb.
• An infinitive can do many things that nouns can do in a sentence.
• An infinitive can also work as an adjective or adverb.
What do Infinitives Look Like?
• The underlined words are infinitives. Note that they begin with “to” and are followed by a verb.
-I want to go also.
-My goal is to win.
-To answer is difficult.
-The plan is to hide.
Infinitive Phrases
• An infinitive phrase begins with “to” and is followed by a verb. These words are then followed by additional words. Altogether these words form an infinitive phrase.
What Do Infinitive Phrases Look Like?
• The underlined words are infinitive phrases.
-The goal is to win the game.
-I wish to answer the question correctly.
-To relax at the beach is my dream!
-The person to speak with concerning that problem is the principal.
The Jobs of an Infinitive
• Infinitives have many jobs in a sentence. • As a noun, infinitives may work as:
– Subjects– Predicate Nouns– Direct Objects– Appositives– Objects of the Preposition
• Infinitives may also work as:-Adjectives-Adverbs
Infinitives Used as Subjects
• To find the subject of a sentence, find the actual verb in the sentence and ask “Who?” or “What?” before it.Ex. To tell jokes well is quite a talent.
The verb is “is.” When you ask, “What is a talent?” you get the answer “To tell jokes well.” Therefore, “To tell jokes well” is the subject of the sentence.
**Now the subject does NOT have to be just one word!
Infinitives Used as Predicate Nouns
• To find a predicate noun, you must have a linking verb or verb of condition. A predicate noun comes after a linking verb or verb of condition and renames the subject.Ex. My goal is to get my A.R. points.
“Is” is a linking verb. The subject of the sentence is “goal.” Coming after the linking verb is “to get my A.R. points” which renames the goal; therefore, “to get my A.R. points” is the predicate noun.
*Note that the predicate noun is now NOT just one word.
Infinitives Used as Direct Objects
• To find a direct object, first you must have an action verb. Ask “Who?” or “What?” after the action. If one of those questions is answered, you have found a direct object.
Ex. I like to swim in my pool.
The action verb is “like.” When asking “like what?” the answer is “to swim in my pool;” therefore, “to swim in my pool” is a direct object.
*Notice that the direct object is NOT just one word.
Infinitives Used as Objects of the Preposition
• To find an object of the preposition, first find a preposition. Then ask “Who?” or “What?” after the preposition.Ex. I forgot everything except to buy milk.
“Except” is a preposition. When the question “Except what?” is asked, the answer is “to buy milk.” That means that “to buy milk” is the object of the preposition.
**Please notice that the object of the preposition is no longer a single word.
Infinitives Used as Appositives
• An appositive comes after a noun and renames or explains it. Appositives are often set off by commas.Ex. My plans to buy a computer became a reality.“Plans” is a noun. It is immediately renamed by “to buy a computer;” therefore, “to buy a computer” is an appositive.
Infinitives Used As Adjectives
• An adjective describes a noun. An infinitive working as an adjective will then also describe a noun.
Ex. The puzzle to build has a thousand pieces!
“Puzzle” is a noun. When you ask “Which puzzle?” the answer is ‘to build.” That means that “to build” is describing the noun “puzzle” which makes it an adjective.
*Note that the adjective here is NOT just one word.
Infinitives Used as Adverbs
• An adverb describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb. Although adverbs are usually single word modifiers, infinitives used as adverbs will always be more than one word.Ex. It is hard to see during a heavy rainstorm.
“Hard” is an adjective that describes the subject “it.” “To see” tells how it was hard; therefore, “to see” describes the adjective which makes it an adverb.
Infinitives Look Different!
• Before this new verbal was learned, weren’t subjects always one word? Weren’t direct objects always one word?
• NOW that has changed! Infinitives will always be more than one word; therefore, when they work as subjects, direct objects, etc., those functions will always be more than one word!
How to Diagram Infinitives
• An infinitive is diagrammed on a pedestal. If the infinitive is a noun function (subject, direct object, predicate noun, object of the preposition, and appositive) the pedestal sits in the place of the noun function.
• An infinitive diagrammed as an adjective or adverb hangs on a tailless hockey stick underneath what it describes. The pedestal sits on the tailless hockey stick.
Diagramming Objects of the Preposition
I forgot everything except to buy milk.
I forgot everything
except
Diagramming Appositives• My plans to buy a computer became a reality. (Remember, appositives are diagrammed in parenthesis.)
)plans
My
(
a
became reality
a
Diagramming AdjectivesThe puzzle to build has a thousand pieces! (Remember that adjectives are diagrammed underneath
what they describe.)
puzzle
The
has piecesa thousand