313. An Infinitive is a Verbal

The word to along with a verb makes an infinitive.
Here are some infinitives: to bake, to cook, to read, to open, to plan, to help, to draw
An infinitive is a verbal: it looks like a verb but acts as a noun.

Here is an example of an infinitive: I want to help.
To help is a direct object receiving action from the verb. A direct object is always a noun, so the infinitive to help is acting as a noun.

Here is another example of an infinitive: To draw cartoons is my post college goal.
To draw is the subject of the sentence. We use a noun for the subject of a sentence, so To draw is acting as a noun.

In infinitive is the word to joined with a verb. An infinitive acts as a noun in a sentence.

  • It’s your turn. Find the infinitive in this sentence. Look for the word to along with a verb. That will be the infinitive. To ride the pony, you must pay ten cents.