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- à 5.8èInfinitive Phrases
- ä:èIn the sentences in the Example, underline the infinitive
- phrase.
- #âS:ïI like ╕to╗ ╕hunt╗ ╕quail╗.
- #êè ╕To╗ ╕be╗ ╕alert╗, you must get enough sleep.
- #êè He ignored the challenge ╕to╗ ╕attain╗ ╕╕╕╕╕╕╕╕high╗ ╕scores
- #êè ╕on╗ ╕the╗ ╖╕exam╗.
- #êè ╕To╗ ╕be╗ ╕a╗ ╕famous╗ ╕collector╗ was his goal.
- #êè The purpose of this project was ╕to╗ ╕investigate╗ ╕the
- #êè ╕toxic╗ ╕chemicals╗.
- éS An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus any words
- attached to it.ïInfinitive phrases an act as nouns as do gerunds--
- whether as subjects, direct objects, or predicate nouns, but not objects
- of the preposition.ïInfinitive phrases can also function as adverbs or
- #adjectives.ï╖To please my father is my desire╗ contains the noun
- #infinitive phrase ╖to please my father╗ used as the subject of the verb
- #form ╖is╗.ï╖I try to clean up my offices╗ contains the noun infinitive
- #phrase ╖to clean up my offices╗ used as the direct object of the verb
- #╖try.ï╗In ╖my plot to assassinate the corrupt king,╗ the noun
- #infinitive phrase ╖to assassinate the corrupt king╗ acts as a predicate
- #noun, preceded by the linking verb ╖is╗ and identifying the subject ╖
- #╖plot╗.ïNote that in each case, the infinitive is followed by the nouns
- #╖father, offices, ╗and ╖king.╗ïAny nouns or pronouns following an
- infinitiveïin an infinitive phrase are called the objects of the
- #infinitive, answering the question ╖What?ï╗An example of an infinitive
- #phrase functioning as an adjective is as follows:ï╖The decision to
- #╖travel to India was not mine.ïTo travel to India ╗identifies the noun
- #╖decision, ╗thus acting as an adjective.ïAll adjective infinitive
- phrases come after the word they modify.ïInfinitive phrases also act
- #as adverbs.ïFor example, in ╖To be a partner, you must first reveal
- #╖your financial assets, to be a partner ╗acts as an adverb modifying
- #the verb ╖reveal╗ and answering the adverbial question ╖Under what con-
- #╖dition?ï╗If the words ╖in order╗ can be inserted before an infinitive
- phrase, then that infinitive phrase acts as an adverb.ïThere is another
- #context in which an infinitive phrase acts as an adverb.ïIn ╖Eager to
- #╖be early, Hank got a speeding ticket, to be early ╗modifies the ad-
- #jective ╖eager╗ and answers the question ╖In what manner?
- 1.èWhich one of the following sentences contains a noun
- infinitive phrase used as a subject?
- A)ïI attempt to brush thoroughly my horse's tail.
- B)ïHis vocation might be to minister to the underemployed in the
- è inner cities.
- C)ïTo tell the truth all the time is not necessarily a virtue.
- D)ïå
- üèAll the infinitive phrases in ç sentences act as nouns.
- #╢To tell the truth all the time ╗is an infinitive phrase acting as the
- #subject of the verb form ╢is╗.ï╢To tell ╗is the infinitive to which the
- #noun ╢truth╗ and the prepositional phrase ╢all the time╗ are attached.
- #╖To brush thoroughly my horse's tail ╗is an infinitive phrase used as
- #the direct object of the verb ╖attempt.ïTo brush ╗is the infinitive,
- #followed by the adverb ╖thoroughly ╗and the object of the infinitive,
- #╖my horse's tail. To minister to the under employed in the inner cities
- is an infinitive phrase used as a predicate noun, followed by the
- #linking verb ╖be ╗and referring to the noun ╖vocation╗, the subject of
- #the verb phrase ╖might be.ïTo minister ╗is the infinitive, followed by
- #the two prepositional phrases ╖to the under employed ╗and ╖in the inner
- #╖cities.
- Ç C
- 2.èWhich one of the following sentences contains a noun
- infinitive phrase used as a direct object?
-
- A)ïDoes Samuel like to wander in the forest?
- B)ïCautiously to step over the huge puddle was Mike's approach.
- C)ïAre you certain that Laura's cue was to snap her wristband?
- D)ïå
- üèAll three sentences contain infinitive phrases acting as nouns.
- #╢To wander in the forest ╗is an infinitive used as the direct object of
- #the verb phrase ╢does like╗.ï╢To wander╗ is the infinitive, and ╢in the
- #╢forest ╗is the prepositional phrase completing the infinitive phrase.
- #╖Cautiously to step over the huge puddle ╗is an infinitive phrase used
- #as the subject of the verb form ╖was╗.ï╖To step╗ is the infinitive,
- #preceded by the adverb╖ cautiously ╗and followed by the prepositional
- #phrase ╖over the huge puddle╗, all of which form the infinitive phrase.
- #╖To snap her wristband ╗is an infinitive phrase used as a predicate noun
- #preceded by the linking verb ╖was╗ and referring to the noun ╖cue╗, the
- #subject of that linking verb.ï╖To snap ╗is the infinitive, and ╖her
- #╖wristband╗ is the object of the infinitive.
- Ç A
- 3.èWhich one of the following sentences contains a noun
- infinitive phrase used as a predicate noun?
-
- A)ïTo be in control of difficult situations is perhaps unattainable.
- B)ïMy job was to recycle appliances.
- C)ïShe knows to be on time.
- D)ïå
- üèAll three sentences contain infinitive phrases acting as nouns.
- #╢To recycle appliances ╗is an infinitive phrase that is used as a
- #predicate noun, followed by the linking verb╢ was ╗and referring to the
- #noun ╢job╗, the subject of that linking verb.ï╢To recycle╗ is the
- #infinitive, and ╢appliances╗ is its object.ï╖To be in control of dif-╖
- #╖ficult situations ╗is an infinitive phrase used as the subject of the
- #verb form ╖is╗.ï╖To be ╗is the infinitive; ╖in control╗ and ╖of dif-
- #╖ficult situations ╗are two prepositional phrases that complete the
- #infinitive phrase.ï╖To be on time ╗is an infinitive phrase that acts as
- #the direct object of the verb form ╖knows.ïTo be ╗is the infinitive,
- #and ╖on time╗ is the prepositional phrase completing the infinitive
- phrase.
- Ç B
- 4.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an adjective
- infinitive phrase?
- A)ïThe victim's family were disgusted with the agreement to prosecute
- è the alleged murderer on a lesser charge.
- B)ïIs it true that you want to dye your hair green for St. Patrick's
- è Day?
- C)ïWe will never begin to lower our academic standards.
- #üè╢To prosecute the alleged murderer on a lesser charge ╗is an
- #adjective infinitive phrase modifying the noun ╢agreement╗ and answering
- #the question ╢What kind of?ï╗In this infinitive phrase, ╢to prosecute ╗
- #is the infinitive, ╢the alleged murderer╗ is the object of the infini-
- #tive, and ╢on a lesser charge╗ is the prepositional phrase.ïThe other
- #sentences each contain one infinitive phrase.ï╖To dye your hair green╗
- #is a noun infinitive phrase used as the direct object of the verb ╖want:
- #╖to dye ╗is the infinitive, with ╖your hair green ╗as its object.ïIn
- #the remaining sentence, ╖to lower our academic standards ╗is a noun in-
- #finitive phrase used as a direct object of the verb ╖begin╗.ï╖To lower
- #is the infinitive, and ╖our academic standards ╗is the object of that
- infinitive.
- Ç A
- 5.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an adjective
- infinitive phrase?
- A)ïAll along you have plotted to give me heartburn.
- B)ïTo marry the poorest woman in town was his decision.
- C)ïThe ability to see all sides of an issue is the mark of an
- è intellectual.
- D)ïå
- #üè╢To see all sides of an issue ╗is an adjective infinitive
- #phrase modifying the noun ╢ability.ïTo see ╗is the infinitive, ╢all
- #╢sides ╗ is its object, and ╢of an issue ╗is the prepositional phrase
- #that completes the infinitive phrase.ïIn another sentence, ╖to give
- #╖me heartburn ╗is a noun infinitive phrase acting as a direct object of
- #the verb phrase ╖have plotted.ïTo give ╗is the infinitive, and ╖me ╗and
- #╖heartburn ╗are its objects.ïIn the remaining sentence, ╖to marry the
- #╖poorest woman in town ╗is a noun infinitive phrase used as the subject
- #of the verb form ╖was.ïTo marry ╗is the infinitive, ╖the poorest woman
- #is its object, and ╖in town ╗is the prepositional phrase that completes
- the infinitive phrase.
- Ç C
- 6.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an adverb
- infinitive phrase?
-
- A)ïMy hobby once was to renew discolored oak tables.
- B)ïTo outwit him, you must assume that he is your equal.
- C)ïPaul missed the opportunity to meet the hockey superstar.
- D)ïå
- #üè╢To outwit him╗ is an adverb infinitive phrase modifying the
- #verb ╢assume╗ and answering the question ╢Under what condition?ïTo out-
- #╢wit ╗is the infinitive, and ╢him╗ is its object.ïIn another sentence
- #╖to renew oak colored tables ╗is a noun infinitive phrase used as a
- #predicate noun preceded the linking verb ╖was╗ referring to the noun
- #╖hobby, ╗the subject of that linking verb.ï╖To renew ╗is the infini-
- #tive, followed by the object of the infinitive, ╖discolored oak tables.
- #In the remaining sentence, ╖to meet the hockey superstar ╗is an adjec-
- #tive infinitive phrase modifying the noun ╖opportunity.ïTo meet ╗is
- #the infinitive, and ╖the hockey superstar ╗is its object.
- Ç B
- 7.èWhich one of the following sentences contains an adverb
- infinitive phrase?
-
- A)ïIt was hard to understand his scribbled note.
- B)ïYour daring to dance on the hot coals disturbs me.
- C)ïTo separate the chickens by squawking will work.
- D)ïå
- #üè╢To understand his scribbled note ╗is an adverb phrase modi-
- #fying the adjective ╢hard ╗and answering the question ╢in what manner?
- #╢To understand ╗is the infinitive, and ╢his scribbled note ╗is its ob-
- #ject--╢scribbled ╗functioning as a past participle used as an adjective
- #modifying the noun ╢note.ï╗In another sentence, ╖╖╖╖╖╖╖╖to dance on the
- #╖hot coals ╗is an adjective infinitive phrase modifying the gerund
- #╖daring.ïTo dance ╗is the infinitive and ╖on the hot coals ╗is the
- prepositional phrase completing the infinitive phrase.ïIn the re-
- #maining sentence, ╖to separate the chickens by squawking ╗is a noun
- #infinitive phrase used as the subject of the verb phrase ╖will work.
- #╖To separate ╗is the infinitive, ╖the chickens ╗is its object, and ╖by
- #╖squawking ╗is a prepositional phrase, with the gerund ╖squawking╗ ser-
- #ving as the object of the preposition ╖by.
- Ç A
- 8.ïWhich of the following sentences has two infinitive phrases?
- A)ïWould you like to give your diagram of the valves in the heart of a
- è walrus to your supervisor?
- B)ïTo my best recollection, never has Joanne tried to photograph Mars.
- C)ïHis command to cut off medical supplies to the civilian population
- è was not obeyed.
- D)ïå
- üèå of ç sentences contain two infinitives phrase.ïIn the
- #first sentence, ╖to give your diagram of the valves in the heart of a
- #╖walrus to your supervisor ╗is a noun infinitive phrase use as the
- #direct object of the verb phrase ╖would like.ï╗Within that long noun
- #infinitive phrase is another phrase beginning with ╖to, ╗but it is the
- #prepositional phrase ╖to your supervisor.ï╗In the second sentence, the
- #noun infinitive phrase ╖to photograph Mars ╗acts as the direct object of
- #the verb phrase ╖has tried.ïTo my best recollection ╗is a prepositional
- phrase, not an infinitive phrase.ïIn the third sentence, a prep-
- #ositional phrase beginning with the word ╖to, to the civilian pop-
- #╖ulation, ╗is part of an adjective infinitive phrase modifying the noun
- #╖command: to cut off medical supplies to the civilian population.
- Ç D
-