Infinitive Phrases
What Is It?
An infinitive phrase uses to + base verb and acts as noun, adjective, or adverb: to + V (+ obj/modifiers) → “We plan to refactor soon.”
Why Use Infinitive Phrases?
- Purpose — signals intent quickly.
- Economy — replaces longer clauses.
- Versatility — fits many sentence slots.
When to Choose Infinitive Phrases
Roadmaps, user goals, CTA buttons (“Click to upload”).
Forming Infinitive-Phrase Sentences
| Role | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | IP + V | “To scale databases takes planning.” |
| Object | V + IP | “We hope to launch v3.” |
| Purpose | S + V + IP (adv) | “Run indexing to improve search.” |
| Adjective | N + IP | “An API to fetch metrics shipped.” |
Tips for Writing with Infinitive Phrases
- Keep to—don’t split unnecessarily.
- Place purpose IP after main clause.
- Avoid double infinitives (“try to to…”).
- Check verb patterns (prefer decide to, not decide on to).
Exceptions & Nuances
“Bare” infinitives follow make, let, help (“Help deploy”). Maintain consistency.