Lesson 231 - Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be used as an adverb. Examples: to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten.

Adverb infinitives are used to modify verbs. They usually tell why.

An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive and any complements (direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, or modifiers.) An infinitive phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence is always followed by a comma and modifies the subject of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the infinitives in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. The man came to confess.

2. We should study to learn.

3. The girls were waiting to be asked.

4. Our neighbor called to apologize.

5. I went to the hospital to rest.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. to confess modifies the verb came

2. to learn modifies the verb should study

3. to be asked modifies the verb were waiting

4. to apologize modifies the verb called

5. to rest modifies the verb went

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