Infinitives are formed from verbs, but they act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. They consist of the word to plus a verb. Learn more about diagramming infinitives. Diagram the to part of the infinitive on a slanted line.

My Teaching Method for Teaching Gerunds & Infinitives with a Story

1. Read the story aloud to the class.
2. Briefly explain that in English, often verbs are followed by another action.
3. On the white/chalkboard, write “Verb + infinitive” on the left side, and “Verb + Gerund” on the right.
4. Reread your story for a third time.

We can only use the infinitive of purpose if the subject of the main verb and the infinitive of purpose are the same. If they are different, we use ‘so that + clause’ or ‘in order that + clause’. I went to the library to study. (I went to the library and I studied – the subject are both ‘I’.)

Infinitive phrases include infinitives. Examples include, “to walk,” “to read,” or “to eat.” Infinitives can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. As a noun, they might act as the subject of the sentence. For example, “To travel is the only thing on her mind.” As an adjective, they’ll modify a noun.

The infinitive form of a verb is written with the following formula: “to + verb”. For example, “to talk”, “to find” or “to fight”. An important point to note is the role of the word “to” in this. “To” can be used as a preposition, but in this case it’s actually a part of the verb itself.

In traditional descriptions of English, the infinitive is the basic dictionary form of a verb when used non-finitely, with or without the particle to. Thus to go is an infinitive, as is go in a sentence like “I must go there” (but not in “I go there”, where it is a finite verb).

Gerunds are nouns formed from verbs. Gerunds are formed by adding –ing to the end of a verb. Some examples are eating, playing, and listening. Infinitives use to before the verb so the examples above would be to eat, to play, and to listen. Both can be used as the subject or object of a sentence.