Infinitives

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 Infinitives
Infinitives are “to + a verb”:
– To sing
– To go
– To dance
– To work
– To play
Infinitives are easily recognized
because of the preposition “to” +
the verb.
 Infinitives
There are certain verbs that cause the “to” in
the infinitive to disappear:
– Let watch
– See help
– Make dare
– Hear feel

– I saw him fall down the stairs.

– He heard his sister scream.

– Let me drive the car into the garage.

 Infinitives

– The preposition except causes the “to” in

the infinitive to disappear also:

The child did nothing except lie in the crib.

 Infinitives
Infinitives are similar to gerunds and
participles in that they can have direct
objects, indirect objects, and
prepositional phrases.

Infinitives are different from gerunds

and participles because they can have
subjects.
 Infinitives
To isolate the infinitive phrase, begin
with the infinitive first.

He wants to spend this summer in

Europe.

She watched the child fly his kite.

She saw him crawl through the mud.

 Infinitives with Direct Objects

Determine whether or not the infinitive phrase

has a direct object by asking the question
Subject + verb + whom/what? = direct object

He wanted to watch the dog in the yard.

The coach taught him to hit a curve
ball.
The student had to write a report about
the famous detective.
Infinitives with Indirect Objects

Infinitive + direct object + to/for

whom/what = indirect object

He refused to give Bill the money.

– To give what? = money Direct Object
 Infinitives with Prepositional
Phrases

Infinitive phrases can have direct object,

indirect objects and prepositional phrases.

The prepositional phrase will function as an

adverb or an adjective.
Infinitives with Prepositional
Phrases

– He likes to watch the game on his big

screen TV.

– The doctor told him to go to the

hospital immediately.
 Infinitives with Prepositional
Phrases

He wants to buy the puppy in the

pet shop window.

She wants to visit the museum in

Williamsburg.
 Summary
Infinitives can have
– subjects
– Direct objects
– Indirect objects
– Predicate nominatives
– Prepositional phrases

This powerpoint presentation was

designed only to show how to isolate an
infinitive or infinitive phrase.
 Summary
Infinitives can be used with gerunds and
participles and other infinitives:

The doctor’s orders to stop smoking was

difficult to do.
The father wanted to watch his son play
football.
Wishing to avoid an argument Debra left the
room.
He wanted to pet the dog lying on the floor.