Phrases Part Three Grade Seven What

Phrases – Part Three Grade Seven

What is an Infinitive? • An infinitive is a verbal. • An infinitive begins with the word “to” and is followed by a verb. • An infinitive can do many things that nouns can do in a sentence. • An infinitive can also work as an adjective or adverb.

What do Infinitives Look Like? • The underlined words are infinitives. Note that they begin with “to” and are followed by a verb. -I want to go also. -My goal is to win. -To answer is difficult. -The plan is to hide.

Infinitive Phrases • An infinitive phrase begins with “to” and is followed by a verb. These words are then followed by additional words. Altogether these words form an infinitive phrase.

What Do Infinitive Phrases Look Like? • The underlined words are infinitive phrases. -The goal is to win the game. -I wish to answer the question correctly. -To relax at the beach is my dream! -The person to speak with concerning that problem is the principal.

The Jobs of an Infinitive • Infinitives have many jobs in a sentence. • As a noun, infinitives may work as: – – – Subjects Predicate Nouns Direct Objects Appositives Objects of the Preposition • Infinitives may also work as: -Adjectives -Adverbs

Infinitives Used as Subjects • To find the subject of a sentence, find the actual verb in the sentence and ask “Who? ” or “What? ” before it. Ex. To tell jokes well is quite a talent. The verb is “is. ” When you ask, “What is a talent? ” you get the answer “To tell jokes well. ” Therefore, “To tell jokes well” is the subject of the sentence. **Now the subject does NOT have to be just one word!

Infinitives Used as Predicate Nouns • To find a predicate noun, you must have a linking verb or verb of condition. A predicate noun comes after a linking verb or verb of condition and renames the subject. Ex. My goal is to get my A. R. points. “Is” is a linking verb. The subject of the sentence is “goal. ” Coming after the linking verb is “to get my A. R. points” which renames the goal; therefore, “to get my A. R. points” is the predicate noun. *Note that the predicate noun is now NOT just one word.

Infinitives Used as Direct Objects • To find a direct object, first you must have an action verb. Ask “Who? ” or “What? ” after the action. If one of those questions is answered, you have found a direct object. Ex. I like to swim in my pool. The action verb is “like. ” When asking “like what? ” the answer is “to swim in my pool; ” therefore, “to swim in my pool” is a direct object. *Notice that the direct object is NOT just one word.

Infinitives Used as Objects of the Preposition • To find an object of the preposition, first find a preposition. Then ask “Who? ” or “What? ” after the preposition. Ex. I forgot everything except to buy milk. “Except” is a preposition. When the question “Except what? ” is asked, the answer is “to buy milk. ” That means that “to buy milk” is the object of the preposition. **Please notice that the object of the preposition is no longer a single word.

Infinitives Used as Appositives • An appositive comes after a noun and renames or explains it. Appositives are often set off by commas. Ex. My plans to buy a computer became a reality. “Plans” is a noun. It is immediately renamed by “to buy a computer; ” therefore, “to buy a computer” is an appositive.

Infinitives Used As Adjectives • An adjective describes a noun. An infinitive working as an adjective will then also describe a noun. Ex. The puzzle to build has a thousand pieces! “Puzzle” is a noun. When you ask “Which puzzle? ” the answer is ‘to build. ” That means that “to build” is describing the noun “puzzle” which makes it an adjective. *Note that the adjective here is NOT just one word.

Infinitives Used as Adverbs • An adverb describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb. Although adverbs are usually single word modifiers, infinitives used as adverbs will always be more than one word. Ex. It is hard to see during a heavy rainstorm. “Hard” is an adjective that describes the subject “it. ” “To see” tells how it was hard; therefore, “to see” describes the adjective which makes it an adverb.

Infinitives Look Different! • Before this new verbal was learned, weren’t subjects always one word? Weren’t direct objects always one word? • NOW that has changed! Infinitives will always be more than one word; therefore, when they work as subjects, direct objects, etc. , those functions will always be more than one word!

How to Diagram Infinitives • An infinitive is diagrammed on a pedestal. If the infinitive is a noun function (subject, direct object, predicate noun, object of the preposition, and appositive) the pedestal sits in the place of the noun function. • An infinitive diagrammed as an adjective or adverb hangs on a tailless hockey stick underneath what it describes. The pedestal sits on the tailless hockey stick.

The Pedestal • The pedestal looks like this:

Diagramming Subjects To tell jokes well is quite a talent. ll we is talent a qu ite

Diagramming Predicate Nouns • My goal is to get my A. R. points. R. is A. my goal y M

Diagramming Direct Objects • I like to swim in my pool. in like my I pool

Diagramming Objects of the Preposition I forgot everything except to buy milk. I forgot everything ept exc

Diagramming Appositives • My plans to buy a computer became a reality. (Remember, appositives are diagrammed in parenthesis. ) a ( plans ) became reality a M y

Diagramming Adjectives The puzzle to build has a thousand pieces! (Remember that adjectives are diagrammed underneath what they describe. ) puzzle has pieces d n usa tho a e Th

Diagramming Adverbs It is hard to see during the rainstorm. It is hard g rin du rainstorm the