Students can practice their grammar skills by identifying and underlining infinitives within these eight example sentences.

Let's solve the worksheet step by step.

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Understanding the Task

The goal is to underline the infinitive in each sentence.
An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by the word "to" (e.g., *to eat*, *to run*). Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

We are looking for phrases that start with "to" + base verb.

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Now, let’s go through each sentence:

1. The kids really like to paint.
→ The infinitive is to paint.
✔ Underline: to paint

2. The dog is learning not to bark.
→ "not to bark" is an infinitive phrase (with a negative).
✔ Underline: not to bark

3. I would like to give you a small gift.
→ The infinitive is to give.
✔ Underline: to give

4. My goal is to earn a million dollars a year.
→ Here, "to earn" is the infinitive acting as a noun (subject complement).
✔ Underline: to earn

5. We hurried to greet him at the door.
→ "to greet" is the infinitive showing purpose (why they hurried).
✔ Underline: to greet

6. I used to enjoy reading to my young child.
→ This one is tricky! "Used to" is a past habit expression.
But here, "to enjoy" is part of the phrase "used to enjoy".
However, "to enjoy" is not an infinitive functioning as a verb here — it's actually part of the phrasal verb "used to".
BUT: In this case, "reading" is a gerund, and "to" in "used to" is not part of an infinitive — it's a fixed expression.
So, there is no infinitive in this sentence? Wait — let's check again.

Actually, "to enjoy" is an infinitive, but in this context, "used to" is a modal-like phrase, and "enjoy" is the main verb.
However, "to enjoy" is indeed an infinitive.
But note: the phrase is "used to enjoy", which means "in the past, I regularly enjoyed".
So, "to enjoy" is the infinitive here.
✔ Underline: to enjoy

⚠️ Correction: Actually, "used to" is a fixed expression meaning "in the past", and "enjoy" is the main verb. The "to" is not part of the infinitive — it's part of the idiom.
Therefore, there is no infinitive in this sentence.
✘ So, no infinitive to underline.

But wait — some grammar sources consider "used to" as followed by an infinitive. For example: "I used to play" = "I used to play" (infinitive: to play).
So in "I used to enjoy", "to enjoy" is the infinitive.

✔ Yes — to enjoy is the infinitive.
✔️ Underline: to enjoy

7. I tried to call you before I came over.
→ "to call" is the infinitive showing what the person tried to do.
✔ Underline: to call

8. The dog is always asking me to play.
→ "to play" is the infinitive (what the dog wants the speaker to do).
✔ Underline: to play

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✔ Final Answers:

1. The kids really like to paint.
2. The dog is learning not to bark.
3. I would like to give you a small gift.
4. My goal is to earn a million dollars a year.
5. We hurried to greet him at the door.
6. I used to enjoy reading to my young child.
7. I tried to call you before I came over.
8. The dog is always asking me to play.

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

- An infinitive is "to" + base verb.
- It can be used as:
- Noun: *"To learn is important."*
- Adjective: *"I need a book to read."*
- Adverb: *"She came to help."*
- Even when negated (not to...) or part of a phrase (used to, try to, etc.), the "to" + verb is still an infinitive.

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✔ All sentences have infinitives except possibly #6, but as discussed, "to enjoy" is indeed the infinitive in that sentence.

So, all answers are correct as above.