Infinitives and infinitive phrases - An infinitive may be used as ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each problem step by step. We’re looking for infinitives (to + verb) or infinitive phrases (to + verb + other words), and then we’ll say if it’s acting as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

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Part 1: Identify the infinitive/phrase and its function

#### 1. People have always sought to protect their rights.
- Infinitive phrase: to protect their rights
- What is it doing? It tells *why* people sought — so it’s an adverb (modifies “sought”)

#### 2. Early Bostonians staged the Boston Tea Party to protest taxation without representation.
- Infinitive phrase: to protest taxation without representation
- Why did they stage it? To protest → modifies “staged” → adverb

#### 3. To protect their comfortable position, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette ignored the demands of the French people.
- Infinitive phrase: To protect their comfortable position
- This is at the beginning — it explains *why* they ignored demands → modifies the whole sentence → adverb

#### 4. The people of France, weary of going hungry while royalty flourished, were determined to succeed in their revolt.
- Infinitive phrase: to succeed in their revolt
- They were determined *to do what?* → describes “determined” → adjective (tells us what kind of determination)

Wait — actually, “determined” is an adjective, and “to succeed...” tells us *what* they were determined to do → so yes, adjective

But let’s double-check: In grammar, when an infinitive follows an adjective like “ready,” “willing,” “determined,” it usually acts as an adverb modifying the adjective? Hmm…

Actually, standard rule: After adjectives like “ready,” “eager,” “determined,” the infinitive functions as an adverb telling *in what way* or *to what extent*. But some textbooks call it an adjective complement.

Looking back at the example in the box:
> The choir was ready to sing. (adverb) ← this is given as adverb!

So following that pattern:
“were determined to succeed” → same structure → adverb

✔ So correction: adverb

#### 5. The creation of a system of public schools established the right of all Americans to become educated.
- Infinitive phrase: to become educated
- What does it describe? “the right” → which right? The right *to become educated* → so it’s describing a noun → adjective

#### 6. In the early 1900s, suffragists launched a campaign convincing the country that women should also be allowed to vote.
- Infinitive phrase: to vote
- Allowed *to do what?* → modifies “allowed” → but “allowed” is part of passive verb “be allowed” → still, “to vote” tells us what they are allowed to do → it’s functioning as an adverb? Wait...

Actually, “be allowed to vote” — “to vote” is the thing they are allowed to do → it’s the object of “allowed” → but “allowed” is a verb here? No — “should be allowed” is passive voice.

In passive constructions, the infinitive after “be allowed” is often considered an adverb modifying the verb phrase.

But let’s check the example again:
> Here is laundry to wash. (adjective) ← because “to wash” describes “laundry”

Here: “women should be allowed to vote” — “to vote” tells us *what* they are allowed to do → it’s completing the meaning of “allowed” → many grammars treat this as an adverb.

However, some sources might say it’s an adjective modifying “women”? No — not really.

Actually, in this case, “to vote” is the purpose or result of being allowed → so adverb

But wait — look at sentence 7:

#### 7. All the math teachers have papers to grade today.
- Infinitive phrase: to grade
- Papers *to grade* → which papers? Those that need grading → describes “papers” → adjective

Similarly, in #6: “allowed to vote” — “to vote” isn’t describing “women” directly; it’s saying what action is permitted → so likely adverb

But let’s compare with textbook examples.

Standard answer key approach:

- If infinitive comes after a noun and describes it → adjective
- If it tells why/how/when → adverb
- If it’s the subject or object → noun

In #6: “be allowed to vote” — “to vote” is the thing being allowed → it’s the object of the permission → so technically, it could be seen as a noun? But no — “allowed” is a verb form.

Actually, in modern grammar, after verbs like “allow,” “permit,” “let,” the infinitive is often treated as an object complement or just part of the verb phrase.

But for middle school level, based on the examples given:

Example: “The choir was ready to sing.” → labeled adverb

Similarly, “women should be allowed to vote” → parallel structure → adverb

✔ So: to vote → adverb

#### 8. The angry customer demanded to see the manager.
- Infinitive phrase: to see the manager
- Demanded *what?* → the thing demanded is “to see the manager” → so it’s the direct object → noun

Yes! Because you can replace it with a noun: “demanded [something]” → “to see the manager” = the something → noun

#### 9. The rugby team was ready to start.
- Infinitive phrase: to start
- Ready *to do what?* → modifies “ready” → same as “ready to sing” → adverb

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Part 2: Combine sentences using an infinitive phrase

We need to combine two sentences into one by turning the second idea into an infinitive phrase.

#### 10. Civil libertarians took to the streets and the courts. They wanted to achieve their goal.
→ Combine: Civil libertarians took to the streets and the courts to achieve their goal.

(“to achieve their goal” replaces “they wanted to achieve their goal”)

#### 11. They fought for the rights of all Americans. Now all Americans have voting rights.
→ How to combine? Maybe: They fought for the rights of all Americans to ensure that all Americans have voting rights.

But that’s long. Better: They fought for the rights of all Americans to give them voting rights.

Or even simpler: They fought for the rights of all Americans to secure voting rights for everyone.

But the instruction says “by forming an infinitive phrase” — so we want to use “to + verb”.

Original second sentence: “Now all Americans have voting rights.” → We can rephrase as “to give all Americans voting rights” or “to ensure all Americans have voting rights”

Best fit: They fought for the rights of all Americans to guarantee voting rights for all.

But let’s keep it close: They fought for the rights of all Americans to make sure all Americans have voting rights.

Hmm — maybe too wordy.

Alternative: They fought for the rights of all Americans to establish voting rights for everyone.

Actually, simplest: They fought for the rights of all Americans to give every American voting rights.

But perhaps the expected answer is: They fought for the rights of all Americans to ensure universal voting rights.

Wait — let’s think differently.

The first sentence is about fighting for rights. The second is the result or purpose.

So: They fought for the rights of all Americans to secure voting rights for all.

I think that’s fine.

But let’s try to match the structure of #10.

In #10: “They wanted to achieve their goal” became “to achieve their goal” attached to the first sentence.

Here: “Now all Americans have voting rights” — this is a result, not necessarily the purpose.

But we can interpret it as the purpose: They fought ... in order to make sure all Americans have voting rights.

So: They fought for the rights of all Americans to ensure that all Americans have voting rights.

Still long.

Maybe: They fought for the rights of all Americans to grant voting rights to all.

That’s better.

Or: They fought for the rights of all Americans to provide voting rights for everyone.

I think any of these work. Let’s pick one.

Final choice: They fought for the rights of all Americans to secure voting rights for all citizens.

But to keep it simple: They fought for the rights of all Americans to give all Americans voting rights.

Actually, redundant.

Better: They fought for the rights of all Americans to establish voting rights nationwide.

No — stick close.

How about: They fought for the rights of all Americans so that all Americans would have voting rights — but that’s not an infinitive.

Must use infinitive.

So: They fought for the rights of all Americans to achieve voting rights for all.

Yes.

#### 12. Now each American has a responsibility. Every American must exercise that right to vote.
→ Combine: Now each American has a responsibility to exercise the right to vote.

Perfect — “to exercise the right to vote” is the infinitive phrase explaining what the responsibility is.

Note: “to vote” inside is also an infinitive, but we’re focusing on the main one: “to exercise...”

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Now let’s write down all answers clearly.

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Final Answer:

1. to protect their rights — adverb
2. to protest taxation without representation — adverb
3. To protect their comfortable position — adverb
4. to succeed in their revolt — adverb
5. to become educated — adjective
6. to vote — adverb
7. to grade — adjective
8. to see the manager — noun
9. to start — adverb

10. Civil libertarians took to the streets and the courts to achieve their goal.
11. They fought for the rights of all Americans to secure voting rights for all.
12. Now each American has a responsibility to exercise the right to vote.