Which Part Of The Sentence Contains An Infinitive

Which Part of the Sentence Contains an Infinitive? A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the infinitive and its role within a sentence is crucial for mastering English grammar. Many find the infinitive challenging, but this comprehensive guide will break it down, explaining not just what an infinitive is, but also where to find it within various sentence structures. We'll explore various examples, helping you confidently identify infinitives in any sentence.

What is an Infinitive?

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word "to." Think of it as the most basic form of a verb, untouched by tense or person. For example, the infinitive of "run" is "to run," the infinitive of "eat" is "to eat," and the infinitive of "be" is "to be."

It's important to distinguish the infinitive from other verb forms. The infinitive isn't conjugated; it doesn't change to reflect tense (past, present, future), number (singular, plural), or person (I, you, he, she, it, we, they). This makes it a unique and identifiable part of speech.

Identifying Infinitives: Key Characteristics

• "To" + Base Verb: The most common way to spot an infinitive is the presence of "to" directly before the base form of the verb. For example: to sing, to dance, to think.

• Exception: Bare Infinitives: There are exceptions. Sometimes, the "to" is omitted. These are called bare infinitives. We'll explore these cases in detail later.

• Function as Nouns, Adjectives, or Adverbs: While an infinitive is fundamentally a verb form, it can function differently within a sentence. It can act as a noun (subject or object), an adjective (modifying a noun), or an adverb (modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb). This versatility is a key aspect of its grammatical function.

Locating Infinitives in Different Sentence Structures

Let's examine how infinitives appear in various sentence structures. Understanding these patterns will significantly improve your ability to pinpoint infinitives.

1. Infinitives as the Subject of a Sentence

When the infinitive serves as the subject, it comes at the beginning of the sentence.

Example: To err is human.

Here, "to err" is the subject of the verb "is." The entire infinitive phrase acts as the grammatical subject of the sentence.

2. Infinitives as the Object of a Verb

Many verbs are followed by an infinitive as their direct object.

Example: I want to travel the world.

In this sentence, "to travel the world" is the object of the verb "want." The infinitive phrase completes the meaning of the main verb.

Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives:

• Want: I want to eat.
• Need: We need to leave.
• Hope: She hopes to win.
• Plan: They plan to attend.
• Decide: He decided to quit.
• Try: I tried to call you.
• Attempt: She attempted to climb the mountain.
• Agree: We agreed to help.
• Expect: They expect to arrive late.
• Learn: He learned to swim.

This list provides a strong foundation for recognizing infinitive phrases that serve as the object of a verb. Remember, the infinitive itself—along with any accompanying objects or modifiers—comprises the object phrase.

3. Infinitives as the Object of a Preposition

Though less frequent, infinitives can also follow certain prepositions.

Example: He is ready to go.

In this instance, "to go" is the object of the preposition "to." The preposition "to" in this case does not mark an infinitive. It is a preposition introducing a prepositional phrase.

4. Infinitives as Adjectives

Infinitives can modify nouns, acting as adjectives.

Example: I have a lot of work to do.

Here, "to do" modifies the noun "work," describing what kind of work it is.

5. Infinitives as Adverbs

Infinitives can also function as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often express purpose or reason.

Example: She studied hard to pass the exam.

"To pass the exam" explains the purpose of her studying—it modifies the verb "studied."

6. Infinitives in Compound Verbs

Some verbs inherently require an infinitive to complete their meaning.

Example: She seems to understand.

The verb "seems" requires the infinitive "to understand" to express a complete thought. "Seems to understand" acts as a compound verb.

7. Bare Infinitives: The Exceptions

As previously mentioned, infinitives can sometimes appear without the "to." These are called bare infinitives. They commonly occur after certain auxiliary verbs like "can," "could," "may," "might," "should," "would," "must," and "will" as well as the verbs "let" and "make," "help," "see," and "hear" when they denote a factual observation.

Examples:

• I can run a marathon.
• You should study harder.
• She made me cry.
• Let's go to the cinema.
• I saw him leave the house. (In this case, to see implies a factual observation).

Complex Sentence Structures and Infinitives

In more complex sentences, identifying the infinitive can require careful analysis of the sentence structure. The presence of multiple clauses or phrases might initially obscure the infinitive’s function, but by systematically dissecting the sentence, the infinitive will clearly stand out.

Example: Despite wanting to finish the project early, he decided to take a break to recharge and then to work through the night to meet the deadline.

This sentence contains multiple infinitive phrases:

• “to finish the project early”: This acts as the object of the gerund "wanting".
• “to take a break”: This acts as the object of the verb “decided”.
• “to recharge”: This acts as an adverbial phrase modifying “take a break”.
• “to work through the night”: This acts as an adverbial phrase modifying “decided”.
• “to meet the deadline”: This acts as an adverbial phrase modifying “work through the night.”

Note how each infinitive phrase plays a different grammatical role within the overall sentence structure, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of the infinitive.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to master identifying infinitives is through practice. Read widely and consciously look for them in sentences. Try to determine their function within the sentence. Analyze examples you find in books, articles, and everyday conversations. Over time, you will develop a keen eye for spotting these essential grammatical elements.

Conclusion

Understanding the infinitive and its various functions is a key element in achieving fluency and accuracy in English grammar. By recognizing the "to" + base verb structure (or the bare infinitive exceptions), and by understanding the potential roles the infinitive can play (subject, object, adjective, or adverb), you can confidently dissect even the most complex sentences and locate these important grammatical units. Remember, practice is key—the more you engage with the concept and analyze its usage, the more easily you will recognize and understand infinitives in any context. This comprehensive guide, coupled with diligent practice, will empower you to confidently identify the part of the sentence containing an infinitive.