Which Sentence Contains an Infinitive? Identifying Infinitives Examples of Sentences with Infinitives Table 1: Examples of Infinitives Table 2: Types of Infinitives Table 3: Functions of Infinitives Table 4: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Infinitives
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Which Sentence Contains an Infinitive? Identifying Infinitives Examples of Sentences with Infinitives Table 1: Examples of Infinitives Table 2: Types of Infinitives Table 3: Functions of Infinitives Table 4: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Infinitives

In English grammar, an infinitive is a verb form that can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. It is typically formed by adding the particle “to” to the base form of a verb. For example, the infinitive of the verb “to go” is “to go.”

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Infinitives can be used in a variety of ways, including:

  • As the subject of a sentence: “To err is human.”
  • As the object of a verb: “I want to go home.”
  • As a complement of a noun: “My goal is to become a doctor.”
  • As a modifier of a noun: “The book to read is on the table.”
  • As an adverbial phrase: “He went to the store to buy some milk.”

To identify an infinitive, look for the particle “to” followed by the base form of a verb. For example, in the sentence “I want to go home,” the infinitive is “to go.”

Here are some examples of sentences that contain infinitives:

which sentence contains an infinitive

  • I want to go to the store.
  • He went to the store to buy some milk.
  • The book to read is on the table.
  • My goal is to become a doctor.
  • To err is human.
Infinitive Usage
to go As the object of a verb
to buy some milk As an adverbial phrase
to read As a complement of a noun
to become a doctor As the subject of a sentence
to err As an adverbial phrase
Type of Infinitive Example
Bare infinitive To go is my goal.
To-infinitive I want to go home.
Gerund infinitive Going home is my goal.
Perfect infinitive To have gone home is my goal.
Passive infinitive To be gone home is my goal.
Function Example
As the subject of a sentence To err is human.
As the object of a verb I want to go home.
As a complement of a noun My goal is to become a doctor.
As a modifier of a noun The book to read is on the table.
As an adverbial phrase He went to the store to buy some milk.
Mistake Correction
Using an infinitive after a preposition He went to the store for to buy some milk.
Using an infinitive after a modal verb I should to go home.
Using an infinitive after a helping verb I am to go home.
Using an infinitive after a passive verb The book was to read.