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Infinitive Phrase

An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive verb with any complements and modifiers. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb. As a noun, it can be a subject, object, or complement. As an adjective, it describes nouns and pronouns. As an adverb, it typically expresses purpose or reason. Infinitive phrases sometimes use a "bare infinitive" without "to" after certain verbs. While split infinitives are grammatically correct, rewording to avoid them may be safer for some readers.

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164 views7 pages

Infinitive Phrase

An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive verb with any complements and modifiers. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb. As a noun, it can be a subject, object, or complement. As an adjective, it describes nouns and pronouns. As an adverb, it typically expresses purpose or reason. Infinitive phrases sometimes use a "bare infinitive" without "to" after certain verbs. While split infinitives are grammatically correct, rewording to avoid them may be safer for some readers.

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Infinitive Phrase

What Is an Infinitive Phrase?


An infinitive phrase is the infinitive form of a verb plus
any complements and modifiers. For example:
 He likes to knead the dough slowly.
(The infinitive form of the verb is "to knead." The
complement is its direct object ("the dough"). The
modifier is the adverb ("slowly"). They all make up the
infinitive phrase (the shaded text).)
The complement of an infinitive verb is usually the direct object, and
the modifier is usually an adverb.

Examples of Infinitive Phrases


Here are some examples of infinitive phrases (shaded):
 He helped to build the roof.
 The officer returned to help the inspectors.
 Let me show you the best way to fit a door quickly.
 She tells you to dance like no one is watching.

The Function of Infinitive Phrases


An infinitive phrase can play the role of a noun, an adjective, or
an adverb.

Infinitive Phrases As Nouns


Here are some infinitive phrases used as nouns.

Like all nouns, an infinitive phrase can function as a subject,


an object, or a complement within a sentence.

Here are two examples of infinitive phrases as subjects:


 To have a big dream requires the same effort as having a
small dream. Dream big! (Brazilian-Swiss businessman
Jorge Paulo Lemann)
(The infinitive phrase is the subject of "requires.")
 To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is
something, but to fly is everything. (Aviation pioneer Otto
Lilienthal)
(This quotation has three infinitive phrases functioning as
nouns. They are all the subjects of "is.")
Here are two examples of infinitive phrases as objects:
 He helped to build the roof.
 (The infinitive phrase is the direct object of "helped.")
 Nobody wants to hear long speeches. (Guitarist Rick
Nielsen)
(The infinitive phrase is the direct object of "wants.")
Here are two examples of infinitive phrases as complements:
 The only solution was to lower the standards.
(The infinitive phrase is a subject complement. It
completes the linking verb "was.")
 Our aim is to help the clients help themselves, not to tell
them what to think. (Businessman Peter Hargreaves)
(The infinitive phrase is a subject complement. It
completes the linking verb "is.")

Infinitive Phrases As Adjectives


Here are some infinitive phrases used as adjectives.

When an infinitive phrase functions as an adjective, it describes a


noun or a pronoun.
 Let him show you the best way to paint the door.
(The infinitive phrase describes the noun "way.")
 I love crime books. I need one to read on holiday.
(The infinitive phrase describes the pronoun "one.")
 The first step in forgiveness is the willingness to forgive
those who have wronged us. (Author Marianne
Williamson)
(The infinitive phrase describes the noun "willingness.")

Infinitive Phrases As Adverbs


Here are some infinitive phrases used as adverbs.

Most infinitive phrases that function as adverbs tell us why the action
occurred. Most infinitive phrases that function as adverbs could start
with "in order to" (as opposed to just "to.")
 The officer returned to help the inspectors
(The infinitive phrase modifies the verb "returned." It tells
us why.)
 He opened the box to reveal a huge bullfrog.
(The infinitive phrase modifies the verb "opened." It tells
us why.)
 God loves to help him who strives to help himself. (Greek
tragedian Aeschylus)
(It can get complicated. The infinitive phrase "to help him
who strives to help himself" is functioning as a noun (i.e.,
it is the direct object of "loves"). That infinitive phrase
contains the infinitive phrase "to help himself," which is
functioning as an adverb modifying "strives.")

Infinitive Phrases with Bare Infinitives


Most infinitives are preceded by "to," but after certain verbs, the "to" is
dropped. (When the "to" is dropped, it is called "a bare infinitive.") This
happens when an infinitive follows "can," "could," "may," "might,"
"must," "shall," "should," "will," or "would" (i.e., a modal auxiliary verb).

In these examples, the infinitive phrases have a bare infinitive (in


bold):
 He should go home immediately.
 They might finish the project by Wednesday.
Bare infinitives also follow other verbs. The main ones are "feel,"
"hear," "help," "let," "make," "see," and "watch." This time, there is
a direct object involved. For example:
 Dawn helped her friend bake his mother a cake.
(The "special" verb is "helped." The direct object is "her
friend." In the infinitive phrase, the bare infinitive is
"bake." Its direct object is "a cake." This time there is
an indirect object ("his mother") in the infinitive phrase
too.)
 I watched them sweep the road as fast as they could.
(The "special" verb is "watched." The direct object is
"them." In the infinitive phrase, the bare infinitive is
"sweep." Its direct object is "the road." The phrase "as
fast as they could" is an adverbial clause.)

Why Infinitive Phrases Are Important


Native English speakers can use infinitive phrases without too many
snags. For those learning or teaching English though, life is a little
trickier because deliberate consideration must be given to how
infinitive phrases function (i.e., as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs)
before they can be used or taught. The other issue for language
learners or teachers is understanding when to drop the "to" of an
infinitive verb (i.e., when to use a "bare infinitive"). This is covered in
more detail on the infinitive verbs page.

Here are two noteworthy points related to infinitive phrases for native
English speakers.

(Point 1) You can usually save two words by


deleting "in order" in a phrase that starts "in
order to."
If you need to reduce your word count, you can usually replace "in
order to" with just "to" without any loss of meaning. For example:
 You need a stubborn belief in an idea in order to see it
realised. (Inventor James Dyson)
 In order To be a diplomat, one must speak a number of
languages, including doubletalk. (Author Carey Williams)
Bear in mind though that using "in order to" has an advantage: it
makes it clear that the text that follows is the reason for performing the
action. (It's like using "so as to.")Read more about deleting "in order"
on the "infinitives" page (see Reason 3).

(Point 2) Split infinitives are okay.


It is not unusual for an infinitive phrase to feature a split infinitive. (A
split infinitive occurs when a writer splits the full infinitive with an
adverb, e.g., "to really know," "to better understand," "to secretly
watch".)

Using a split infinitive is often the most succinct and natural-sounding


way to write. However, there's an issue with the split infinitive: some
people regard it as non-standard English or even a grammar mistake.
Let's be clear. Split infinitives are perfectly acceptable.

That's not the end of the issue though. Can you take the risk that
some of your readers might consider you sloppy for using a split
infinitive? Here's some advice: Have a quick go at rewording your
sentence to avoid the split infinitive, but if your new sentence doesn't
read as well (and it probably won't), just go with the split infinitive.

In these examples, the split infinitives are in bold and the infinitive
phrases are shaded:
 I need to accurately present the data.
 I need to present the data accurately.
(Both of these are okay, but the second version (the
reworded version) is safer. It doesn't feature a split
infinitive that could annoy some of your readers, and it
sounds okay.)
 I need to more than triple my income.
 I need more than to triple my income. (sounds
awkward)
(The top one sounds fine, but the second one doesn't.
Avoiding the split infinitive is too difficult with this
example. Go with the top one.)
Sound Advice

If the reworded version reads worse than the split infinitive, revert to
the split infinitive. If the reworded version reads equally as well as the
split infinitive, avoid the split infinitive.
Read more about split infinitives.

Key Points
 If "in order to" adds no clarity and you're not looking for
emphasis on the reason, delete "in order."
 There is no need to actively avoid a split infinitive, which
is often the most succinct, accurate, and natural way to
convey your thought.

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