13 Useful Infinitives as Adjective Examples(Read This First!)

In this article, we will be seeing about how infinitives can be used as adjectives with the aid of 13 useful infinitives as adjective examples.

Infinitives in simple terms can be regarded as one form of verb which can take up the role of a noun, an adjective or an adverb based on the function it performs in a sentence. An adjective is nothing but a word that provides us with more information about a person, animal, thing or a place (naming word).

What are infinitive as adjectives?

The infinitive is a verb form that has the format of ‘to + action word (verb)’, that is, the action word following ‘to’. When this form of the verb performs the function of an adjective by modifying or describing the name of person, animal, object, or place (nouns or noun phrases), then it can be regarded as an infinitive as adjective.

Example: Rihan needs water to drink.

‘To drink’ is the infinitive in the above sentence as it is in the form to + verb (drink). Here the infinitive ‘to drink’ is functioning as an adjective because it is saying to us more about the noun ‘water’ by answering the question ‘for what Rihan needs water?’.

Infinitives as adjectives sentences

Go through the following sentences where infinitives are functioning as adjectives.

• 1. Vridhi has some clothes to iron.
• 2. Here is your food to eat.
• 3. Suresh is definitely a man to be loved.
• 4. This is surely a book to read.
• 5. Dinesh made an attempt to win.
• 6. She made a promise to finish this work by tonight.
• 7. The man has few more fruits to sell.
• 8. Now is not the time to argue over this matter.
• 9. Can I get a ball to play?
• 10. You should have a pencil to write in the class.
• 11. We still have not finalized the place to go.
• 12. I have found a way to solve this problem.
• 13. This is the dress to wear for the party.

Infinitives as adjectives sentences with detailed explanations

Here, we will identifying the infinitives in each of the above sentence and examine how and why they function as adjectives in the sentences.

1. Vridhi has some clothes to iron.

‘To iron’ is the infinitive in the above sentence because it is taking up the form of to + verb (iron). The infinitive ‘to iron’ here is functioning as an adjective since it is modifying the naming word ‘clothes’ by telling us more about what Vridhi has to do with the clothes thereby present right after the noun (clothes) it is qualifying.

2. Here is your food to eat.

The infinitive in this sentence is ‘to eat’ as the action word ‘eat’ is following the ‘to’, thus taking the infinitive verb form. The infinitive, ‘to eat’ is performing the job of an adjective here, as it is telling us additional detail on what is the food for, by qualifying the noun ‘food’ which precedes it.

3. Suresh is definitely a man to be loved.

The infinitive in this sentence is ‘to be loved’ as the action word ‘be loved’ is following the ‘to’, thus taking the infinitive verb form. The infinitive, ‘to be loved’ is performing the job of an adjective here, as it is telling us additional detail on what kind of man Suresh is, by qualifying the noun ‘man’ which precedes it.

4. This is surely a book to read.

‘To read’ is the infinitive in the above sentence because it is taking up the form of to + action word (read). The infinitive ‘to here’ here is doing the function of an adjective since it is modifying the naming word ‘book’ by telling us more about what has to be surely done with this book, thereby present right after the noun (book) it is qualifying.

5. Dinesh made an attempt to win.

‘To win’ is the infinitive in the above sentence because it is taking up the form of to + action word (win). The infinitive ‘to win’ here is functioning as an adjective since it is modifying the naming word ‘attempt’ by telling us more about for what Dinesh has made an attempt, thereby present right after the noun (attempt) it is describing.

6. She made a promise to finish this work by tonight.

The infinitive in this sentence is ‘to finish’ as the action word ‘finish’ is following the ‘to’, thus taking the infinitive verb form. The infinitive, ‘to finish’ is performing the job of an adjective here, as it is telling us additional information on for what she made a promise by qualifying the noun phrase ‘a promise’ which precedes it.

7. The man has few more fruits to sell.

The infinitive in this sentence is ‘to sell’ as the verb ‘sell’ is following the ‘to’, thus taking the infinitive verb form. The infinitive, ‘to sell’ is performing the job of an adjective here, as it is telling us extra information on what does the man has to do with the fruits by qualifying the noun ‘fruits’ which precedes it.

8. Now is not the time to argue over this matter.

‘To argue’ is the infinitive in the above sentence because it is taking up the form of to + action word (argue). The infinitive ‘to argue’ here is functioning as an adjective since it is modifying the naming word ‘time’ by telling us more about now it’s not the time for what thereby present right after the noun (time) it is describing.

9. Can I get a ball to play?

‘To play’ is the infinitive in the above sentence because takes the form of to + verb (play). The infinitive ‘to play’ here is functioning as an adjective since it is modifying the naming word ‘ball’, an object by telling us more about for what the subject ‘I’ wants the ball, thereby present right after the noun (ball) it is qualifying.

10. You should have a pencil to write in the class.

The infinitive in this sentence is ‘to write’ as the verb ‘write’ is following the ‘to’, thus taking the infinitive verb form. The infinitive, ‘to write’ is performing the job of an adjective here, as it is telling us extra information on for what you should have a pencil in the class by qualifying the noun ‘pencil’ which precedes it.

11. We still have not finalized the place to go.

The infinitive in this sentence is ‘to go’ as the verb ‘go’ is following the ‘to’, thus taking the infinitive verb form. The infinitive, ‘to go’ is performing the job of an adjective here, as it is telling us more information on for what we still have not finalized the place by qualifying the noun ‘place’ which precedes it.

12. I have found a way to solve this problem.

‘To solve’ is the infinitive in the above sentence because takes the form of to + verb (solve). The infinitive ‘to solve’ here is doing the function of an adjective since it is modifying the naming word ‘way’, by telling us more about for what the subject ‘I’ has found a way, thereby present right after the noun (way) it is qualifying.

13. This is the dress to wear for the party.

‘To wear’ is the infinitive in the above sentence because takes the form of to + action verb (wear). The infinitive ‘to wear’ here is functioning as an adjective as it is modifying the naming word ‘dress’, an object by telling us more about what is the dress for, thereby present right after the noun (dress) it is qualifying.

Infinitive as adjectives use

When infinitives are used as adjectives, they do what all the other adjectives do in general. Yes, infinitives too when used as adjectives describe the noun or noun phrase in the sentence, by present right after the noun or noun phrases they qualify.

Example: The old man has finally got someone to help him.

In this sentence, as we can see ‘to help’ is the infinitive utilized as it is in the form of an infinitive verb (to + help). The infinitive ‘to help’ is placed right after the noun ‘someone’ (a person) and answers the question ‘for what the old man has finally got someone?’, thus modifying the noun ‘someone’. Since the infinitive ‘to help’ is giving us extra information about a noun in the sentence, it can be considered as an adjective here.

Conclusion

Thus from the above examples and explanations, we got it clear, that infinitives can function as adjectives, but not always. Do remember, infinitives can be adjectives only when they modify the noun that precedes it.