Warm Up: Identify any participles and gerunds. Label them as such. Going to the mall is fun. The screaming eagle soared above the field. The beaten team walked off the field. One of the most important aspects of your health is sleeping. Your determined running inspired me.

Infinitives

What is an infinitive? An infinitive almost always has two parts. It usually begins with the word to and is followed by a simple verb. The pattern looks like this: to + verb = infinitive Examples: – to read – to smash – to promise – to dunk – to sing

Split Infinitive If you don’t keep them together, it’s called a split infinitive. Incorrect Example: Janae hopes to quickly finish her biology homework so she can watch American Idol with her little sister.

Split Infinitive When you use an infinitive, you must keep the to and the simple verb together. CORRECT Example: Janae hopes to finish her biology homework quickly so she can watch American Idol with her little sister.

How do infinitives act in a sentence? An infinitive uses a verb as one of its parts, but does not act like a verb in a sentence. An infinitive can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Infinitives as Nouns To sleep is the only thing Eli wants after his double shift waiting tables at Friendly’s. To sleep acts as a noun because it is the subject of the sentence.

Infinitives as Nouns No matter how fascinating the biology dissection is, Emanuel turns his head and refuses to look. To look acts as a noun because it is the direct object for the verb refuses.

Infinitives as Adjectives Wherever Melissa goes, she always brings a book to read in case she has a long wait. To read acts as an adjective because it modifies book.

Infinitives as Adverbs Kiana braved the icy rain to throw the smelly squid eyeball stew into the apartment dumpster. To throw acts as an adverb because it explains why Kiana braved the awful weather.