DAILY GRAMMAR - - - - by Mr. Johanson Lessons 231-235

 

Lesson 231

Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be used as an adverb. Examples: to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten.

Adverb infinitives are used to modify verbs. They usually tell why.

An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive and any complements (direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, or modifiers.) An infinitive phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence is always followed by a comma and modifies the subject of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the infinitives in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. The man came to confess.

2. We should study to learn.

3. The girls were waiting to be asked.

4. Our neighbor called to apologize.

5. I went to the hospital to rest.

1. to confess modifies the verb came

2. to learn modifies the verb should study

3. to be asked modifies the verb were waiting

4. to apologize modifies the verb called

5. to rest modifies the verb went

Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be used as an adverb. Examples: to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten.

Adverb infinitives are used to modify verbs. They usually tell why.

An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive and any complements (direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, or modifiers.) An infinitive phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence is always followed by a comma and modifies the subject of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the infinitive phrases in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. She came to explain the answer.

2. The kids went to see the circus.

3. On the rough road I drove carefully to prevent any damage.

4. I returned a different way to avoid further damage.

5. We stopped at a cafe to eat lunch.

1. to explain the answer modifies the verb came

2. to see the circus modifies the verb went

3. to prevent any damage modifies the verb drove

4. to avoid further damage modifies the verb returned

5. to eat lunch modifies the verb stopped

Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be used as an adverb. Examples: to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten.

Adverb infinitives are used to modify predicate adjectives.

An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive and any complements (direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, or modifiers.) An infinitive phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence is always followed by a comma and modifies the subject of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the infinitives or infinitive phrases in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. The van is ready to go.

2. You are sure to meet him again.

3. My horse is hard to catch.

4. I am happy to be of service.

5. Joan is likely to change her mind.

1. to go modifies the predicate adjective ready

2. to meet him again modifies the predicate adjective sure

3. to catch modifies the predicate adjective hard

4. to be of service modifies the predicate adjective happy

5. to change her mind modifies the predicate adjective likely

Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be used as an adverb. Examples: to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten.

Adverb infinitives are used to modify verbs. They usually tell why. Adverb infinitives are used to modify predicate adjectives. They may also be compound.

An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive and any complements (direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, or modifiers.) An infinitive phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence is always followed by a comma and modifies the subject of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the infinitive phrases in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. The actors performed there to entertain and to be seen.

2. The amount of danger was impossible to imagine or to describe.

3. I have come to ask a favor and to seek your help.

4. Are you unable to see or to read the sign?

5. The bucking horse jumped high to throw me and to break my neck.

1. to entertain/to be seen modify the verb performed

2. to imagine/to describe modify the predicate adjective impossible

3. to ask a favor/to seek your help modify the verb have come

4. to see/to read the sign modify the predicate adjective unable

5. to throw me/to break my neck modify the verb jumped

Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be used as an adverb. Examples: to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten.

Adverb infinitives are used to modify verbs. They usually tell why. Adverb infinitives are used to modify predicate adjectives. They may also be compound.

An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive and any complements (direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, or modifiers.) An infinitive phrase that comes at the beginning of the sentence is always followed by a comma and modifies the subject of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the infinitives or infinitive phrases in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. The inspector came to check the dam for leaks.

2. Fred finally went to work.

3. Paul arrived in New York to study physics and to learn more.

4. Are you old enough to drive?

5. The new soldiers were ready to listen and obey.

1. to check the dam for leaks modifies the verb came

2. to work modifies the verb went

3. to study physics/to learn more modify the verb arrived

4. to drive modifies the predicate adjective old

5. to listen/(to) obey modify the predicate adjective ready

Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

Instructions: Find the infinitives or infinitive phrases in these sentences and tell what word they modify.

1. The salesman is likely to go and to return in one day.

2. The crowd had come to demonstrate against his cruelty.

3. I would be happy to help you.

4. Frightened by the bear, I was unable to move or run.

5. No one came to see the old man.

6. The commentator stopped to clarify his statement.

7. In this storm it is hard to see.

8. The deer returned to eat more from our yard.

9. We stopped to view the beautiful sunset.

10. I was able to grab the rope and climb to safety.

1. to go/to return in one day modify the predicate adjective likely

2. to demonstrate against his cruelty modifies the verb had come

3. to help you modifies the predicate adjective happy

4. to move/(to) run modify the predicate adjective unable

5. to see the old man modifies the verb came

6. to clarify his statement modifies the verb stopped

7. to see modifies the predicate adjective hard

8. to eat more from our yard modifies the verb returned

9. to view the beautiful sunset modifies the verb stopped

10. to grab the rope/(to) climb to safety modify the predicate adjective able

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