In English, infinitives are super useful. They can do a lot of things, like being a noun, an adjective, or even a modifier. This blog will be all about how infinitives jazz up nouns and adjectives to make sentences cooler and clearer.

What is an Infinitive?

Let’s do a quick refresh on infinitives. An infinitive is the most basic form of a verb, usually combined with the word ‘to.’ 

Examples:

♦ to run
♦ to write
♦ to learn

Using an Infinitive as a Modifier?

An infinitive can modify either a noun or an adjective, telling us more about the word it modifies.

When it modifies a noun, we call it an adjective modifier. When it modifies an adjective, it’s an adverbial modifier. The infinitive depends on the word it describes.

Adjective Modifier

When an infinitive modifies an adjective, it usually answers the question why. It gives more details about the feelings or abilities expressed by the adjective.

In the sentence ‘He was eager to learn’ the infinitive to learn modifies the adjective eager. It explains what he is eager about.

Examples: 

♦ An opportunity to advance came.
♦ Determination to win brings success.
♦ Willingness to oblige makes friends.
♦ I wish I could swim.
♦ His anxiety to please us was laughable.

We use an infinitive like ‘Determination to win’ this because it’s like a prepositional phrase and it acts like an adjective in these situations.

In its adjective use, the infinitive doesn’t show a difference between active and passive voices. 

♦ Example: A house to lease or to be leased
♦ Example: An axe to grind or to be ground

In these examples, both forms can work, but people usually prefer the active form.

Adverbial Modifier

Infinitives modify adverbs to add purpose or reason to the action. This usage helps explain why or to what extent the action in the sentence is happening. It can also give additional meaning or clarification to the verb or clause being described by the adverb.

Examples:

♦ The men are ready to advance.
♦ John is eager to win.
♦ I shall be glad to oblige you.
♦ We are all able to swim.
♦ He is eager to please everybody.

Using the Infinitive Without ‘To”

Sometimes, we use the infinitive without ‘to’ as a modifier for a noun or pronoun that comes after verbs (like see, hear, feel, and other similar action verbs).

Examples:

♦ I saw the police officer arrest him.
♦ Hear the sea roar!
♦ Can you feel the ground tremble?
♦ Ruth watched the tide come in.

In these cases, the infinitive (without to) works similarly to a participle.

For example, I heard him shout is quite similar to I heard him shouting. This means the noun or pronoun (like him) is the object, and the infinitive (like shout) acts as its modifier. But this type of sentence is very close to what we call an infinitive clause.

Related Reading: Understanding Verb Inflection

Modifying a Verb

An infinitive can modify a verb in two fundamental ways – it can complete its meaning (Complementary Infinitive) or show the purpose of the action (Infinitive of Purpose).

Showing Potential (Complementary Infinitive)

A complementary infinitive completes the meaning of the verb it’s connected to. It helps explain what the action is about.

Examples:

♦ The ship began to roll.
♦ The rain continued to fall heavily.
♦ Every boy desires to succeed.
♦ The officer neglected to watch his men.
♦ The prisoners attempted to escape.
♦ You promised to come tonight.

The verb dare allows you to use the infinitive with or without ‘to’. 

♦ Example: I dare not do it.
♦ Example: Who will dare to speak?

Giving Purpose (Infinitive of Purpose)

The infinitive can also show the reason or purpose behind an action. It explains why something is being done or what something is for.

Examples:

♦ She went to New York to study medicine.
♦ He opened his lips to speak.
♦ She closed her eyes to shut out the sight.
♦ Elsa lifted the cover to see what was inside.
♦ The conductor signaled to stop the train.
♦ Harold waited to assist his teacher.

Both complementary infinitives and infinitives of purpose are adverbial phrases because they modify the verb by adding more information.

Acting Like a Noun

Sometimes, infinitives can act like a noun, especially after certain verbs.

♦ Example: I desire to see you (similar to saying I desire a sight of you).

However, it’s simpler to treat all these infinitives as complementary and as modifiers of the verb. This also applies to infinitives after adjectives, like in I am eager to see you, which works similarly to how the infinitive follows verbs like wish and desire.

Related Reading: Unlocking the Power of Nouns in Writing

Practice Exercises

If the following sentence can you identify what part of speech is modified.

1. She is eager to win the race.
2. They traveled to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.
3. I bought a book to read on the plane.
4. He was excited to meet his favorite author.
5. The athlete worked hard to improve his performance.
6. She wants to learn how to play the piano.
7. We went to the store to buy groceries.
8. He needs a tool to fix the car.
9. I have some homework to finish before tomorrow.
10. She stayed up late to study for the test.
11. The class was too noisy to hear the teacher.
12. He gave her a gift to make her smile.
13. I hope to see you at the party.
14. They are preparing to leave for their trip.
15. She is happy to help with the project.
16. He asked to speak with the manager.
17. The problem is difficult to solve.
18. She called to remind him about the meeting.
19. The coach encouraged the players to practice more.
20. The children were excited to go to the amusement park.

Key Takeaways

1. Be Clear with Purpose: Use infinitives to clarify the purpose of an action, to add meaning to your sentences.
2. Infinitives as Adverbial Modifiers: Use infinitives to modify verbs, explaining why something happens.
3. Use Infinitives After Adjectives: Infinitives can modify adjectives, showing the potential or reason behind them.
4. Infinitives in Titles: Infinitives work well in titles, especially when explaining purpose or intent.
5. Use Infinitives for Simplification: Sometimes, an infinitive can simplify complex ideas.

6. Use Infinitives to Create Tension: Infinitives can build anticipation in writing, such as “He was about to speak when the door opened.”
7. Infinitives Can Replace Clauses: You can often replace clauses with infinitives to make sentences more concise.
8. Keep Infinitives Close to the Words They Modify: Placing the infinitive near the word it modifies makes your sentences clearer.
9. Infinitives Can Show Contrast: Infinitives can contrast ideas.
10. Keep Infinitives Consistent in Parallel Structure: When using multiple infinitives.

Last Words on the Infinitive as a Modifier

Infinitives are powerful tools in writing. They help modify nouns and adjectives, giving sentences more detail and purpose. By using infinitives as modifiers, you can make your writing clearer and more engaging. So, the next time you write, try experimenting with using infinitives to give your sentences extra meaning!

Happy writing!

Linda

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