Infinitives are “to + a verb”:

1. Infinitives

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the powerpoint on infinitives in addition to viewing the slide
presentation.

2. 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.

3. Infinitives

There are certain verbs that cause the “to” in
the infinitive to disappear:
–
–
–
–
Let
See
Make
Hear
watch
help
dare
feel
– I saw him fall down the stairs.
– He heard his sister scream.
– Let me drive the car into the garage.

4. Infinitives

– The preposition except causes the “to” in
the infinitive to disappear also:
The child did nothing except lie in the crib.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Infinitives with Prepositional Phrases

He wants to buy the puppy in the
pet shop window.
She wants to visit the museum in
Williamsburg.

12. 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.

13. 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.