A verbal is a word that looks like a verb but does not act like a verb. One type of verbal is the infinitive.
An infinitive is the base form of a verb used with the word to – to walk, to dream, to go. An infinitive is used in a sentence as the subject, as the direct object, or as a modifier.
Look at these examples:
To err is human. The infinitive To err is used as the subject of the sentence.
Mary hopes to win a scholarship. The infinitive to win is used as a direct object in this sentence.
The book to read is on your desk. The infinitive to read is used as an adjective modifying the noun book.
The word to can also be used as a preposition. If the word to is beginning a phrase that shows position of an object, then it is a preposition. If the word to is placed directly in front of a base verb, then the word is being used as an infinitive.
Preposition: We went to the store. The preposition to begins the prepositional phrase To the store.
Infinitive: The teacher wants us to learn. The word to is followed by a verb, so this time it is an infinitive.
Be careful not to confuse the two uses of to.
The verbal infinitive is formed by using the word to with the base form of a verb. In a sentence, an infinitive can be used as a noun (subject or direct object) or as a modifier (adjective or adverb).
It’s your turn. Decide which of these sentences contains an infinitive. We walked to the park. I hope you want to play. Did you choose the second sentence? Good for you! The word to is followed by a verb.