Infinitive Phrases: Using “To + Verb” in English Grammar

Infinitive phrases are one of those grammar building blocks that show up constantly in English – in conversations, emails, essays, and everyday writing – yet many learners never quite pin down how they work. Once you understand the simple structure behind the to + verb pattern and see how it shifts roles inside a sentence, everything clicks. This post breaks it all down clearly, from the basics of what an infinitive phrase actually is, to the verbs that commonly pair with it, to hands-on practice so you can start using it with confidence right away.

What is an infinitive phrase? 🔗

At its core, an infinitive is a verbal made up of the word to plus a verb in its base form, and it can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb within a sentence. The word “verbal” here is key – it tells us that the infinitive is still rooted in a verb and carries the idea of an action or a state of being, even though it is not acting as the main verb of the sentence.

Now, an infinitive on its own is simply to + verb: to draw, to make, to run. But the moment you attach any additional words to it – a direct object, a modifier, a complement – it becomes an infinitive phrase. An infinitive phrase is the infinitive form of a verb together with any complements and modifiers. For example, in the sentence She wants to draw a portrait quickly, the entire segment to draw a portrait quickly is the infinitive phrase. Here, a portrait is the direct object and quickly is the adverb modifying the action.

A quick way to spot an infinitive phrase is to look for to + a base verb followed by extra words that complete the idea. But be careful – to does not always signal an infinitive. When to is part of a prepositional phrase, it is followed by a noun, not a verb. Compare these two sentences: I walked to the store (prepositional phrase) vs. I walked to buy groceries (infinitive phrase). The difference is straightforward: if a verb follows to, you are looking at an infinitive.

How infinitive phrases function in sentences 🔗

One of the most useful things about infinitive phrases is their flexibility. An infinitive phrase can function as a subject, a direct object, a subject complement, an adjective, or an adverb – which means the same structure can serve very different roles depending on where it appears in a sentence.

As a noun 🔗

When an infinitive phrase acts as a noun, it is either the subject or the object of the sentence. Using the to-infinitive as the subject of a sentence is a formal usage and is far more common in written English than in spoken English. Here are clear examples of each role:

Subject: To make a lasting change requires patience and effort. – The phrase to make a lasting change is the subject; it is the thing the sentence is about.
Direct object: Everyone wanted to draw something beautiful. – The phrase to draw something beautiful is what everyone wanted; it is the object of the verb wanted.
Subject complement: Her dream is to make a difference in education. – The phrase to make a difference in education completes the linking verb is and tells us what her dream actually is.

As an adjective 🔗

When an infinitive phrase functions as an adjective, it describes a noun or a pronoun. It usually comes right after the word it is modifying. Look at these examples:

She needs a notebook to write her notes in. – Here, to write her notes in describes the noun notebook. It tells us what kind of notebook she needs.
He is looking for a job to make enough money. – The phrase to make enough money modifies job, specifying the purpose that job should serve.

As an adverb 🔗

Most infinitive phrases that function as adverbs tell us why the action in the sentence occurred. A useful test: if you can replace the infinitive phrase with in order to and the sentence still makes sense, it is almost certainly working as an adverb.

She studied hard to pass the exam. – The phrase to pass the exam modifies studied hard and answers the question why.
He drew the map to help the tourists. – The phrase to help the tourists explains the reason behind drawing the map.

When an infinitive phrase is used as an adverb and appears at the beginning of a sentence, it should be set off with a comma. For example: To make a good impression, you must arrive on time.

Common uses and verbs that pair with infinitives 🔗

Certain verbs in English naturally take an infinitive phrase as their object. These verbs always use the full infinitive if they are followed by a verb form – they can still be used without an infinitive at all, but if an infinitive follows, it must be the full to + verb form. Learning these verbs is one of the fastest ways to sound more natural in English.

Verbs that take infinitives without an actor 🔗

Verbs like plan, hope, decide, promise, and try take an infinitive object directly, with no actor in between. The subject of the main verb is understood to be the one doing the infinitive action as well.

She decided to draw a self-portrait.
They planned to make dinner together.
We promised to arrive before noon.
He hopes to learn a new language this year.

Verbs that take infinitives with an actor 🔗

Verbs like remind, convince, advise, force, and tell require an actor – a noun or pronoun – between the main verb and the infinitive phrase. The actor is the person or thing who will carry out the infinitive action.

Her teacher told her to draw three sketches.
The coach reminded them to make a game plan.
I convinced my friend to try the new restaurant.

Verbs that work both ways 🔗

Some verbs are flexible. Verbs like ask, want, expect, like, and need can take an infinitive phrase with or without an actor, depending on what you mean.

I want to make a change. (no actor needed)
I want you to make a change. (actor included)
She asked to draw the portrait. (no actor)
She asked him to draw the portrait. (actor included)

Expressing purpose with infinitives 🔗

When the to-infinitive is used to indicate purpose or intention, to carries the same meaning as in order to or so as to. This is one of the most common and practical uses of infinitive phrases in daily communication.

She went to the library to make notes for her project.
He stayed up late to finish drawing the design.
They saved money to travel abroad next year.

Practical application: exercises to sharpen your skills 🔗

Reading about infinitive phrases is a solid start, but real confidence comes from using them yourself. Work through the exercises below. Each one targets a specific skill – identifying infinitive phrases, determining their grammatical role, and constructing sentences from scratch.

Exercise 1: Spot the infinitive phrase 🔗

Read each sentence and identify the infinitive phrase. Then decide whether it is functioning as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

1. To draw every day is the best way to improve your art.
2. She bought a pen to write her application letter.
3. They worked overtime to make the deadline.
4. He needs a strong reason to quit his current job.
5. To make a meaningful impact takes years of dedication.

Answers:
1. To draw every day – noun (subject of is).
2. to write her application letter – adjective (describes pen).
3. to make the deadline – adverb (explains why they worked overtime).
4. to quit his current job – adjective (describes reason).
5. To make a meaningful impact – noun (subject of takes).

Exercise 2: Fill in the blank 🔗

Complete each sentence by choosing the correct infinitive phrase from the options provided.

1. She always dreamed _________ .
   (a) to travel around the world  (b) to the nearest airport

2. I need a good book _________ .
   (a) to the bookstore  (b) to read on my vacation

3. He left early _________ .
   (a) to catch the morning train  (b) to his office

4. They bought a large canvas _________ .
   (a) to the art gallery  (b) to draw their family portrait

Answers:
1. (a) – to travel around the world is an infinitive phrase; option (b) is a prepositional phrase.
2. (b) – to read on my vacation describes the noun book.
3. (a) – to catch the morning train explains why he left early.
4. (b) – to draw their family portrait describes the purpose of the canvas.

Exercise 3: Build your own sentences 🔗

Write one original sentence for each of the following prompts. Make sure your infinitive phrase is clearly identifiable.

1. Use an infinitive phrase as the subject of your sentence.
2. Use an infinitive phrase as an adjective modifying a noun.
3. Use an infinitive phrase as an adverb explaining why someone did something.
4. Use the verb want with an infinitive phrase that includes an actor.
5. Use the verb decided with an infinitive phrase to express a personal goal.

There are no single correct answers here – the goal is to practice building sentences where the infinitive phrase has a clear, logical role. Once you can do that consistently, you are well on your way to using to + verb structures naturally in both writing and speech.

A quick note on split infinitives 🔗

You may have heard the rule that says you should never put a word between to and the verb. This is called a split infinitive. Split infinitives are a debated topic among grammarians, with some saying they should be avoided and others saying there is nothing wrong with them. In practice, a single adverb splitting the infinitive is widely accepted in informal and even most formal contexts. For example, I need to quickly finish this task is perfectly understood. However, in highly formal or academic writing, it is safer to keep to and the verb together whenever possible.

What do you think? Consider a sentence you use often in your daily life – can you rewrite it so that it includes an infinitive phrase? And when you read or listen to English around you, how often do you notice the to + verb pattern being used to explain a purpose or describe a goal?

References

1. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/gerunds_participles_and_infinitives/infinitives.html
2. https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/infinitive_phrase.htm
3. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/grammar/infinitives/
4. https://www.ef.edu/english-resources/english-grammar/infinitive/