Examples of Adverbial Infinitives

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 44 views

Introduction

In the sentence "He made an attempt to save the drowning child," the phrase "to save the drowning child" is an infinitive phrase that functions as an adverb. This article will delve into the world of infinitives and explore the role of "to save the drowning child" in the given sentence.

What is an Infinitive?

An infinitive is a verb form that begins with the word "to" and functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Infinitives are used to express purpose, intention, or possibility. They can also be used as a complement to a verb, adjective, or noun.

The Adverbial Infinitive

In the sentence "He made an attempt to save the drowning child," the infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" functions as an adverb. This means that it modifies the verb "made an attempt" and provides more information about the nature of the attempt.

Modifying the Verb

The infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" modifies the verb "made an attempt" by indicating the purpose or intention behind the attempt. In other words, the attempt was made in order to save the drowning child. This is an example of an adverbial infinitive, which functions to provide more information about the verb.

Adjectival vs. Adverbial Infinitives

In some cases, an infinitive phrase can function as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. For example, in the sentence "The ability to save the drowning child is a valuable skill," the infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "ability."

However, in the sentence "He made an attempt to save the drowning child," the infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" functions as an adverb, modifying the verb "made an attempt." This is because the phrase provides more information about the purpose or intention behind the attempt, rather than describing a noun or pronoun.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" in the sentence "He made an attempt to save the drowning child" functions as an adverb, modifying the verb "made an attempt." This is an example of an adverbial infinitive, which provides more information about the purpose or intention behind the verb.

Key Takeaways

An infinitive is a verb form that begins with the word "to" and functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
An adverbial infinitive functions to provide more information about the verb, indicating purpose or intention.
In the sentence "He made an attempt to save the drowning child," the infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" functions as an adverb, modifying the verb "made an attempt."

Examples of Adverbial Infinitives

She decided to go to the store. (The infinitive phrase "to go to the store" functions as an adverb, indicating the purpose or intention behind the decision.)
He tried to learn a new language. (The infinitive phrase "to learn a new language" functions as an adverb, indicating the purpose or intention behind the attempt.)
They wanted to travel around the world. (The infinitive phrase "to travel around the world" functions as an adverb, indicating the purpose or intention behind the desire.)

Examples of Adjectival Infinitives

The ability to save the drowning child is a valuable skill. (The infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "ability.")
The need to learn a new language is essential. (The infinitive phrase "to learn a new language" functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "need.")
The desire to travel around the world is a common dream. (The infinitive phrase "to travel around the world" functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "desire.")

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is an adverbial infinitive?

A: An adverbial infinitive is a type of infinitive phrase that functions as an adverb, providing more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb.

Q: How do I know if an infinitive phrase is adverbial or adjectival?

A: To determine whether an infinitive phrase is adverbial or adjectival, ask yourself if it is modifying a verb or a noun. If it is modifying a verb, it is likely an adverbial infinitive. If it is modifying a noun, it is likely an adjectival infinitive.

Q: Can an infinitive phrase be both adverbial and adjectival?

A: Yes, an infinitive phrase can be both adverbial and adjectival, depending on the context in which it is used. For example, in the sentence "The ability to save the drowning child is a valuable skill," the infinitive phrase "to save the drowning child" is adjectival, modifying the noun "ability." However, in the sentence "He made an attempt to save the drowning child," the same infinitive phrase is adverbial, modifying the verb "made an attempt."

Q: How do I use adverbial infinitives in my writing?

A: To use adverbial infinitives effectively in your writing, try to use them to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "She decided to go to the store," you could say "She decided to go to the store to buy some milk." The adverbial infinitive "to buy some milk" provides more information about the purpose behind her decision.

Q: Can adverbial infinitives be used in all types of sentences?

A: No, adverbial infinitives are typically used in sentences that express purpose, intention, or possibility. They are not typically used in sentences that express a state of being or a physical action.

Q: How do I identify adverbial infinitives in a sentence?

A: To identify adverbial infinitives in a sentence, look for infinitive phrases that begin with the word "to" and function as adverbs. Adverbial infinitives often provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb.

Q: Can adverbial infinitives be used in formal or informal writing?

A: Yes, adverbial infinitives can be used in both formal and informal writing. However, in formal writing, it is often more effective to use more complex sentence structures and vocabulary to convey the same information.

Q: How do I use adverbial infinitives in academic writing?

A: To use adverbial infinitives effectively in academic writing, try to use them to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "The researcher decided to conduct a study," you could say "The researcher decided to conduct a study to investigate the effects of climate change on local ecosystems." The adverbial infinitive "to investigate the effects of climate change on local ecosystems" provides more information about the purpose behind the study.

Q: Can adverbial infinitives be used in technical writing?

A: Yes, adverbial infinitives can be used in technical writing to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "The engineer decided to design a new system," you could say "The engineer decided to design a new system to improve efficiency and reduce costs." The adverbial infinitive "to improve efficiency and reduce costs" provides more information about the purpose behind the design.

Q: How do I use adverbial infinitives in creative writing?

A: To use adverbial infinitives effectively in creative writing, try to use them to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "The protagonist decided to go to the store," you could say "The protagonist decided to go to the store to buy a gift for her sister." The adverbial infinitive "to buy a gift for her sister" provides more information about the purpose behind her decision and adds depth to the story.

Q: Can adverbial infinitives be used in poetry?

A: Yes, adverbial infinitives can be used in poetry to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "She went to the sea," you could say "She went to the sea to find solace in its waves." The adverbial infinitive "to find solace in its waves" provides more information about the purpose behind her action and adds depth to the poem.

Q: How do I use adverbial infinitives in dialogue?

A: To use adverbial infinitives effectively in dialogue, try to use them to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "I'm going to the store," you could say "I'm going to the store to pick up some milk." The adverbial infinitive "to pick up some milk" provides more information about the purpose behind your action and adds depth to the conversation.

Q: Can adverbial infinitives be used in business writing?

A: Yes, adverbial infinitives can be used in business writing to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "The company decided to expand its operations," you could say "The company decided to expand its operations to increase market share and improve profitability." The adverbial infinitive "to increase market share and improve profitability" provides more information about the purpose behind the decision and adds depth to the business plan.

Q: How do I use adverbial infinitives in social media writing?

A: To use adverbial infinitives effectively in social media writing, try to use them to provide more information about the purpose or intention behind a verb. For example, instead of saying "I'm going to the gym," you could say "I'm going to the gym to get in shape for the summer." The adverbial infinitive "to get in shape for the summer" provides more information about the purpose behind your action and adds depth to the post.