1. Verbals I: Infinitives

2. Shakespeare & Infinitives

3. Infinitives Video

4. Infinitives
To sneeze, to smash, to cry, to shriek, to jump, to dunk, to read, to eat, to slurp—all of these are infinitives. An infinitive will almost always begin with to, followed by the simple form of the verb, like this:
to + verb = infinitive
Important Note: Because an infinitive is not a verb, you cannot add s, es, ed, or ing to the end. Ever!

5. Examples
To sleep is the only thing Eli wants after his double shift waiting tables at the neighborhood café. (To sleep – subject; noun)
Wherever Melissa goes, she always brings a book to read in case conversation lags or she has a long wait. (to read – adjective modifying book)
More examples on page 154

6. Warning
Don’t confuse an infinitive with a prepositional phrase that begins with to. Prepositional phrases always have objects that are nouns or pronouns.
Example:
I handed the vase to my mother.

7. Practice
Exercise 10, page 155

8. Characteristics of Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs
Function as subjects or objects
Modify nouns and pronouns
Modify verbs, other adverbs, and adjectives
Are persons, places, things, or ideas
Answer the questions
What kind
How many
Which one
How
When
Where
Why
To what extent
Usually end in -ly

9. Infinitive Phrases
An infinitive phrase is made up of the infinitive (to + verb) and any modifiers the infinitive has.
The entire phrase may be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Examples, pp

10. Practice
Exercise 11, p 156