Can an infinitive be an object of a preposition?

Can an infinitive be an object of a preposition?

A small number of prepositions (most often “about,” “but,” “except,” “for,” and “than”) can have infinitive phrases as their objects. A more conventional explanation would be to describe the infinitive “to solve” as the subject and the infinitive phrase “For him” as adverbial to “to solve.”

What do infinitive phrases modify?

When an infinitive phrase works like an adverb, it modifies the verb in a sentence. Adverbs answer questions like where, when, why, how, and for what reason/purpose, so, as an adverb, the infinitive will answer the same questions.

Can an infinitive phrase include a prepositional phrase?

Infinitives include: to become, to enter, to draw, etc. Prepositional phrases include: to him, to this address, to the mountains, to my house, etc. Infinitive phrases only require a comma when used as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence.

Can an infinitive modify a noun?

Rather, it becomes part of the verb. Examples include, “to walk,” “to read,” or “to eat.” Infinitives can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. For example, “To travel is the only thing on her mind.” As an adjective, they’ll modify a noun.

Is an infinitive a noun?

An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb; it may be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Can an infinitive phrase be an object complement?

An infinitive or infinitive phrase acts as an object complement by describing the intended or desired action of the direct object. For example: “I don’t expect you to approve of my decision.”

What is the object of an infinitive?

The infinitive phrase functions as the direct object of the verb intended. I have a paper to write before class. The infinitive phrase functions as an adjective modifying paper. Phil agreed to give me a ride.

How do you identify an infinitive phrase as noun adjective or adverb?

An infinitive is formed from a verb but doesn’t act as a verb. It acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb, and it is actually made up of two words: to + verb. These two words act together as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

How is infinitive phrase different from prepositional phrase?

An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive (the “to” form of a verb), often a direct object, and modifiers (often adverbs); for example, “I like to read books mostly late at night.”) A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, one or more direct objects (which may be nouns or pronouns), and whatever …

Can an infinitive phrase be an indirect object?

Infinitive phrase includes direct and indirect objects.

Can an infinitive phrase be a direct object?

Infinitives. An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb (in its simplest “stem” form) and functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. However, the infinitive may function as a subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

What does an infinitive phrase modify?

As an adjective, an infinitive phrase will modify a noun in the sentence. To envision that, let’s break it down with an easy example: In this example, the subject, or the thing being discussed, is a book. We learn more about the book, or it gets modified, by the phrase “to help you understand fairy tales.”

Can an infinitive phrase be the subject of a sentence?

Infinitive Phrase as Noun. When an infinitive phrase acts as a noun, it can take the place of any noun in a sentence. That is, it can be the subject, but it can also be the object. Noun Subject Example: To eat ice cream for dessert would be wonderful.

What are the modifiers of a prepositional phrase?

It also includes some associated modifiers. The modifiers that accompany a noun can be adjectives, participial phrases, infinitive phrases or prepositional phrases. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and a noun or pronoun that acts as the object of the preposition. This object is sometimes modified by an adjective or two.

What is the difference between an infinitive and a prepositional phrase?

Even though they also use the word “to,” prepositional phrases are different then infinitives because infinitives combine “to” and a verb, while prepositional phrases combine “to” with a noun or pronoun. Look at the prepositional phrases underlined here: Go to bed.