Why can the infinitive phrase be classified as a noun?

You're right to be curious about that! While the infinitive phrase looks like a verb, it can definitely act like a noun. Here's why:

* It can be the subject of a sentence:

* To travel is my biggest dream. (The phrase "to travel" is the subject of the sentence, performing the action of "is").

* It can be the object of a verb:

* I love to cook. (The phrase "to cook" is the direct object of the verb "love").

* It can be the object of a preposition:

* He's excited about going to the concert. (The phrase "going to the concert" is the object of the preposition "about").

Think of it this way: Infinitive phrases are like verbs with an "extra layer" – they express an action, but they can also function like a noun in various grammatical roles.

Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore other uses of infinitive phrases!