Lesson 217 - Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Noun Infinitives

View lesson on Daily Grammar

An infinitive is a verbal that is to plus a verb form. It can be used as a noun. 

 

Examples: 

to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten

The noun infinitive can be a subject, a direct object, a predicate nominative, an appositive, or an object of a preposition.

 

Examples:

To eat is fun. (subject)

I like to eat. (direct object)

A fun thing is to eat. (predicate nominative)

My hope, to travel, never happened. (appositive)

I want nothing but to save. (object of preposition)

Noun infinitives can have with them direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives or modifiers to form what is called a infinitive phrase. 

 

Example: 

To eat solid foods is hard for babies. 

To eat is the noun infinitive used as the subject, and it has its own direct object foods with the adjective solid, which together make up the subject of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the noun infinitive phrases in the following sentences and tell if they are used as a subject, a direct object, a predicate nominative, an appositive, or an object of a preposition.

1. We need to take them by surprise.

2. To restore old cars is expensive.

3. My wish, to visit the Grand Canyon, has happened.

4. The girl wanted nothing except to succeed in the class.

5. The Jazz's hope is to win the championship.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. We need to take them by surprise.

    - direct object

2. To restore old cars is expensive.

    - subject

3. My wish, to visit the Grand Canyon, has happened.

    - appositive

4. The girl wanted nothing except to succeed in the class.

    - object of the preposition

5. The Jazz's hope is to win the championship.

    - predicate nominative

Next Lesson

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.