What Is an Infinitive Phrase?

An infinitive is a verb form that typically begins with the word to. An infinitive
phrase includes the infinitive, plus any modifiers and complements. Infinitives and
infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence. As nouns,
infinitives and infinitive phrases can act either as subjects, direct objects, or predicate
nominatives.

Noun as Subject Examples:

(To dance is the infinitive. It functions as a noun in the sentence, acting as a subject.)

To see the northern lights in personis incredible.

(To see is the infinitive, and to see the northern lights in person is the infinitive phrase.
The infinitive phrase functions as a noun phrase in the sentence, acting as a subject.)

Noun as Direct Object Examples:

Cory wants to sing.

(To sing is the infinitive. It functions as a noun in the sentence, acting as a direct object.)

My dog needs to take a walk.

(To take is the infinitive, and to take a walk is the infinitive phrase. The infinitive phrase
functions as a noun phrase in the sentence, acting as a direct object.)

Noun as Predicate Nominative Examples:

(To hang-glide is the infinitive. It functions as a noun in the sentence, acting as a

predicate nominative that identifies experience.)

Jay’s greatest aspiration was to climb Mount McKinley.

(To climb is the infinitive, and to climb Mount McKinley is the infinitive phrase. The
infinitive phrase functions as a noun phrase in the sentence. It acts as a predicate
nominative, identifying aspiration.)

Adjective Examples:
Pablo is an important person to know.

(To know is the infinitive. It functions as an adjective in the sentence, modifying person.)

Grizzly bears are impressive animals to see in the wild.

(To see is the infinitive, and to see in the wild is the infinitive phrase. The infinitive
phrase functions as an adjective phrase in the sentence, modifying animals.)

Adverb Examples:
To sleep, bats hang upside down.

(To sleep is the infinitive. It functions as an adverb in the sentence, modifying hang.)

To identify the location of objects around them, dolphins use echolocation.

(To identify is the infinitive, and to identify the location of objects around them is the
infinitive phrase. The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb phrase in the sentence,
modifying use.)

Infinitive Phrases Versus Prepositional Phrases

The word to appears in infinitive phrases and can also appear in some prepositional
phrases. To distinguish between these two types of phrases, pay attention to the word
that directly follows to. If it is a verb, then the phrase is an infinitive phrase. Prepositional
phrases do not contain verbs.

Infinitive Phrase Examples:

Infinitive Phrase: Thomas wants to take swimming lessons.
Prepositional Phrase: I brought my niece to the theater.

Split Infinitives

A split infinitive is an infinitive that has a word or words appearing between the to and
the verb that follows it. Avoid split infinitives by keeping the to and the verb together. To
correct a split infinitive, move words such as modifiers to a different location in the
sentence.

Split Infinitive Examples:

Original: I need to definitely see that movie!
Revised: I definitely need to see that movie!
An infinitive is a verb form that typically begins with the word to. An infinitive phrase includes the
infinitive, plus any modifiers and complements. Infinitives and infinitive phrases can function as nouns,
adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence. As nouns, infinitives and infinitive phrases can act either as
subjects, direct objects, or predicate nominatives.

An infinitive phrase is a group of words that uses an infinitive (“to” + verb). An infinitive is a verbal (a
word that expresses action); so, an infinitive phrase has the same role of expressing action in a
sentence.

An infinitive phrase is just a part of a sentence, working like a noun, adjective, or adverb.
What Is an Infinitive Phrase? (with Examples)

An infinitive phrase is the infinitive form of a verb plus any complements and modifiers.

The complement of an infinitive verb will often be its direct object, and the modifier will often be
an adverb. For example:He likes to knead the dough slowly.(The infinitive 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).)

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

Infinitive Phrases Used As Nouns

Here are some infinitive phrases (shaded) used as nouns:

He helped to build the roof.The only solution is to lower the standards.

Infinitive Phrases Used As Adjectives

Here are some infinitive phrases used as adjectives:Let him show you the best way to paint the door.I
need a book to read on holiday.

Infinitive Phrases Used As Adverbs

Here are some infinitive phrases used as adverbs:The officer returned to help the inspectorsHe opened
the box to reveal a huge bullfrog.

Infinitive Phrases with Bare Infinitives (When Not Preceded by To)

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

See Also

What is the infinitive form?What are complements?What are modifiers?What is a direct object?What
are finite verbs?What are non-finite verbs?Glossary of grammatical terms

Note

What is the Infinitive Form of a Verb?

The infinitive form of a verb is the verb in its basic form. It is the version of the verb which will appear in
the dictionary.

The infinitive form of a verb is usually preceded by to (e.g., to help, to sing, to burn).

Read more about the infinitive form of a verb.

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