Infinitive Phrases
* Structure: Begin with an infinitive, which is the base form of a verb preceded by the word "to" (e.g., to run, to sing, to eat). They often act as a single unit, functioning as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
* Function:
* Nouns: They can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
* Adjectives: They modify nouns or pronouns.
* Adverbs: They modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
* Examples:
* Subject: *To travel the world* is my dream.
* Object: She loves *to dance*.
* Adjective: The best place *to visit* is Paris.
* Adverb: He came *to apologize*.
Prepositional Phrases
* Structure: Begin with a preposition (e.g., on, at, in, with, for, to) followed by a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition).
* Function: Primarily function as adjectives or adverbs, providing additional information about a noun or verb.
* Examples:
* Adjective: The book *on the table* is mine.
* Adverb: She walked *to the store*.
Key Differences
| Feature | Infinitive Phrase | Prepositional Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Starts with | Infinitive ("to" + verb) | Preposition |
| Core Function | Noun, adjective, or adverb | Adjective or adverb |
| Contains | Verb | Noun or pronoun (object) |
Example to Illustrate the Difference
* Infinitive phrase: "To run a marathon" is a challenging goal. (The infinitive phrase acts as the subject of the sentence.)
* Prepositional phrase: He ran *through the park*. (The prepositional phrase acts as an adverb modifying the verb "ran".)
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any further questions!