home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- 163
- à 5.7èThe Infinitive
- ä:èIn the sentences in the Example, underline the
- êêïinfinitives.
- âS:
- #êëI want ╕to go╗ to the park.ï╕
- #êë╕To hide╗ is scary.
- #êëMy mission in life is ╕to fail╗.
- #êëI have accepted the challenge ╕to fight╗.ï╕
- #êë╕╗╕To succeed╗, you must first finish this assignment.
- éS An infinitive is called a verbal because the last one of the two
- #words in any infinitive is the base form of the verb.ïThe word ╖to ╗is
- the first word of any infinitive.ïThus there are as many infinitives as
- there are base form verbs.ïBut infinitives, like all verbals, do not
- act as verbs.ïWhereas gerunds act as nouns, and participles act as
- adjectives, infinitives act as nouns (subject, direct object, predicate
- noun) adjectives, and adverbs.ïExamples of infinitives used as nouns
- #are as follows: In ╖To study is my purpose in life,╗ the infinitive ╖to
- #╖study╗ is the subject of the verb form ╖is╗.ïIn ╖I deserve to live╗,
- #the infinitive ╖to live╗ is the direct object of the verb ╖deserve╗.ïIn
- #╖His task was to whistle╗, the infinitive ╖to whistle╗ is the predicate
- #noun following the linking verb ╖was╗ and tells what is the ╖task╗.
- #Some examples of infinitives used as adjectives are as follows.ïIn╖ The
- #╖topic to research is etymology, to research╗ modifies the noun ╖topic╗
- #and is thus used as an adjective that answers the question ╖Which╗?ïIf
- #you have trouble understanding this concept, put ╖research╗ in front of
- #╖topic╗.ïIf it makes sense being placed there (╖the research topic is
- #╖entomology╗), then it functions as an adjective, as it does here.ïIn
- #╖Ted has the drive to win, to win╗ also acts as an adjective, modifying
- #the noun ╖drive╗, and answers the question ╖What kind╗?ïFinally, infi-
- #nitives can be used as adverbs.ïIn ╖Anxious to return, General Mac
- #╖Arthur said goodby╖e to his troops, to return╗ is an infinitive used
- #as an adverb modifying the adjective ╖anxious╗.ïIt answers the question
- #╖In what manner╗?ïOr in ╖To draw, one must have the proper utensils, to
- #╖draw╗ is an infinitive acting as an adverb modifying the verb ╖have╗
- #and answering the question ╖Under what condition╗?
- 1.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an
- infinitive?
-
- A)ïTo flee or not to flee, that is the question.
- B)ïShe walked to the trap door.
- C)ïNext to the entrance hall was an exposed electrical cord.
- D)ïå
- ü
- #êïBoth times ╢to flee╗ is used as an infinitive.ïIn the other
- #sentences, ╖to the trap door╗ and ╖to the entrance hall ╗are prep-
- #ositional phrases beginning with the preposition ╖to.╗ïTo be an
- #infinitive, ╖to╗ must precede the base form of a verb.ïOtherwise ╖to
- will be part of a prepositional phrase.
- Ç A
- 2.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an
- infinitive used as a noun, specifically the subject?
-
- A)ïHe wants to leave.
- B)ïTo escape is futile.
- C)ïHis decision is to stay.
- D)ïå
- ü
- #êï╢To escape╗ is an infinitive used as a noun.ïIt is the subject
- #of the verb form ╢is.╗ïThe other sentences also have infinitives used a
- #nouns.ï╖To leave ╗functions as the direct object of the verb form ╖
- #╖wants╗, and ╖to stay ╗is a predicate noun following the linking verb ╖
- #╖is╗ and referring to the subject, the noun, ╖decision╗.
- Ç B
- 3.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an infinitive
- used as a noun, specifically the direct object?
-
- A)ïI am determined to win.
- B)ïTo object would not make any sense.
- C)ïIn the hideout, her fear was to cough.
- D)ïå
- #üè╢To win╗ is an infinitive used as a noun; it is the direct
- #object of the past participle ╢determined╗, the main verb.ïThe other
- #sentences also have infinities used as nouns.ï╖To object╗ is the sub-
- #ject of the verb phrase ╖would make,╗ and ╖to cough╗ is a predicate nou
- #following the linking verb ╖was╗ and referring to the noun ╖fear╗, the
- subject.
- Ç A
- 4.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an infinitive
- used as a noun, specifically a predicate noun?
-
- A)ïThere is no doubt that they desire to cheat.
- B)ïTo sign would be foolish.
- C)ïMy only hope is to retreat.
- D)ïå
- ü
- #êï╢To retreat╗ is an infinitive used as a predicate noun coming
- #after the linking verb form ╢is╗ and referring to the noun ╢hope╗, the
- subject.ïThe other sentences also have infinitives used as nouns:
- #╖to cheat ╗functions as the direct object of the verb ╖desire╗, and ╖to
- #╖sign ╗is the subject of the verb phrase ╖would be.
- Ç C
- 5.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an infinitive
- used as an adjective?
-
- A)ïThe opportunity to succeed is great.
- B)ïWho once said that "to forgive" is "divine?"
- C)ïMy conscience has told me to return.
- D)ïå
- ü
- #êï╢To succeed ╗is an infinitive acting as an adjective modifying
- #the noun ╢opportunity.ï╗It answers the question ╢What kind?╗ïIn the
- #other sentences, the infinitives act as nouns.ï╖To forgive ╗is the
- #subject of the verb form ╖is, ╗and ╖to return ╗is the direct object of
- #the verb phrase ╖has told.
- Ç A
- 6.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an infinitive
- used as an adjective?
-
- A)ïHis goal has always been to learn.
- B)ïAre they sure that the urge to cry is inborn?
- C)ïI wish to pray.
- D)ïå
- #üè╢To cry╗ is an infinitive used as an adjective modifying the
- #noun ╢urge╗.ïIt answers the question ╢What kind of?╗╗ïThe other sen-
- #tences contain infinitives acting as nouns.ï╖To learn╗ is a predicate
- #noun following the linking verb ╖been╗ and referring to the noun
- #╖goals, ╗the subject of the verb phrase ╖has been╖.ïTo pray ╗is the
- #direct object of the verb ╖wish.
- Ç B
- 7.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an infinitive
- used as an adverb?
-
- A)ïHe mistrusted his response to fire.
- B)ïTo sue, you must first consult your lawyer.
- C)ïWe try to forget.
- D)ïå
-
- #üè╢To sue╗ is an infinitive used as an adverb modifying the verb
- #╢consult╗.ïIt answers the question ╢Under what condition?╗ïIn another
- #sentence, ╖to fire ╗is an infinitive used as an adjective modifying the
- #noun ╖response.╗ïIn the remaining sentence, ╖to forget ╗is an
- infinitive acting as a noun, specifically the direct object of the
- #verb ╖try╗.
- Ç B
- 8.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an infinitive
- used as an adverb?
-
- A)ïThis is impossible to figure.
- B)ïThe play to choose is found at the beginning of the book.
- C)ïHe demands to retire.
- D)ïå
- #üè╢To figure╗ is an infinitive used as an adverb modifying the
- #adjective ╢impossible ╗and answering the question ╢In what manner?ï╗In
- #another sentence, ╖to choose ╗is an infinitive used as an adjective
- #modifying the noun ╖play╗.ïIn the remaining sentence, ╖to retire╗ is an
- infinitive used as a noun, specifically the direct object of the verb
- #╖demand╗.
- Ç A
- 9.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an infinitive
- used as an adverb?
-
- A)ïTo graduate will be hard for him.
- B)ïThe option to buy was forcefully presented.
- C)ïThe assistant was ready to help.
- D)ïå
- ü
- #êï╢To help╗ is an infinitive acting as an adverb modifying the
- #adjective ╢ready.╗ïIn another sentence, ╖to graduate╗ is a noun,
- #specifically the subject of the verb phrase ╖will be.╗ïIn the remaining
- #sentence, ╖to buy ╗is an infinitive used as an adjective modifying the
- #noun ╖option.
- Ç C
-
-