文档介绍：College English Grammar: Grammar and Writing
Unit 9
Phrases: Infinitive Phrases
Grammar: Infinitive Phrases
Writing:
Correcting: Double Negatives
Rewriting: Important ideas of a sentence
Infinitive Phrases
An infinitive is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Unlike a real verb which functions as a predicate in a sentence, an infinitive is used as a subject, object, attributive, adverbial plement.
(not) to + Verb = infinitive
To shop is her greatest love.
(as a noun functioning as a subject)
Soon there left no water to drink.
(as an adjective modifying a noun “water”)
The thieves’ car was badly damaged and easy to recognize.
(as an adverb modifying an adjective “easy”)
To keep healthy, I do morning exercise.
(as an adverb modifying a verb “do”)
1. Infinitive forms:
Infinitive forms
Simple: to do
Progressive: to be doing
Passive: to be done
Perfect: to have done
Passive + progressive: to be being done
Passive + perfect: to have been done
Progressive forms = an action is taking place now.
Passive forms = the subject of the sentence is being acted upon.
Perfect infinitive forms = completion in both the past and the future.
1. My friend happened to be in the next room.
She was singing there.
My friend happened to be singing in the next room.
2. His bicycle was found.
He never expected so.
He never expected the bicycle to be found.
3. Sailors have seen monsters.
The monsters lived in the sea.
Sailors sometimes claim so.
Sailors sometimes claim to have seen monsters in the sea.
. As nouns
An infinitive phrase can be used as a noun, serving as the subject, the plement, the object or the plement of a sentence.
I eat properly.
I exercise frequently.
This habit keeps my healthy.
To eat properly and to exercise frequently keeps my healthy.
They protect private property.
That is their job.
Their job is to protect private property.
3. Position
As an adjective, an infinitive is usually placed after the word it modifies.
The