Lesson 234 - Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Adverb Infinitives

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An infinitive is a verbal that 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).

Instructions: Find the infinitives or 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.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

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

- to entertain and to be seen modify performed

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

- to imagine and to describe modify impossible

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

- to ask a favor and to seek your help modify have come

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

- to see and to read the sign modify unable

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

- to throw me and to break my neck modify jumped

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