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Infinitive phrases ("to" form of a verb) can be nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. As adverbs, they answer the question "why" or "for what purpose."

In the sentence "Applicants must swim five miles to qualify as a lifeguard" the infinitive phrase "to qualify as a lifeguard" modifies the verb "must swim" gives the reason why they are swimming.

In the sentence "She is old enough to drive" the infinitive modifies the adjective "old."

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8y ago
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1w ago

An infinitive phrase can function as an adverb by modifying a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in a sentence. It answers questions like why, how, when, or to what extent something happens. For example, in the sentence "She ran to catch the bus", the infinitive phrase "to catch the bus" modifies the verb "ran" and explains the purpose of her action.

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Q: How can an infinitive phrase function as an adverb?
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Related questions

What type of phrase is to be?

An infinitive phrase. An infinitive phrase is a noun phrase with an infinitive as its head. Unlike the other noun phrases, however, an infinitive phrase can also function as an adjective or an adverb.


What is the function of an infinitive phrase in a sentence?

noun, adjective, and adverb


What is the infinitive phrase in the sentence you are happy to finish your test?

"to finish your test" is the infinitive phrase.


What role does the infinitive phrase play in this sentence I am happy to finish my test?

adverb


What role does the infinitive phrase in this sentence we met at the park to run?

Adverb


How is the infinitive phrase The board met to consider the proposal?

AdVerb


Is to become famous an adverb?

"To become famous" is an infinitive phrase. It could serve as a noun, adjective, or adverb, but there is no adverb in it.


You met at the park to run. What role does the infinitive phrase play in this sentence?

The infinitive phrase plays the role of an adverb in this sentence. It tells why you met at the park. In the sentence "You met at the park to run", "to run" is the infinitive phrase.


What is an infinitive phrases?

An infinitive phrase uses the "to" form of a verb, used as a noun (subject, object), a subject complement, an adjective, or an adverb. The infinitive phrase includes the object or modifiers of the infinitive.Examples:To completely relax is often difficult for him. (to relax is the subject, to completely relax is the infinitive phrase)He sometimes tries to win the lottery. (to win is the object of tries, to win the lottery is the infinitive phrase)His ambition is to become rich. (to become is the subject complement, to become rich is the infinitive phrase)He lacks the experience to succeed in business. (to succeed is an adjective for experience, to succeed in business is the infinitive phrase)He was disappointed to lose the race (to lose is an adverb for disappointed, to lose the race is the infinitive phrase)


What role does the infinitive phrase play in the sentence we met at the park to run?

Adverb


What verbal phrase that can be used as a noun adverb or adjective and is preceded by the word a?

infinitive


What role does the infinitive phrase play in johnna went to the store to shop?

The infinitive phrase "to shop" functions as an adverb describing the purpose or intention of Johnna going to the store. It explains why she went to the store and adds more detail to the action.