2. What is an “infinitive”?
An infinitive is:
“to” + base (dictionary) form of
a verb
Examples: to run, to sing, to call, to laugh, to
think, to believe, to go, to enjoy, to speak
3. What is an “infinitive of purpose”?
An infinitive of purpose is an infinitive that answers
the question “why”?
I went to the store ….
(WHY?)
to buy milk.
I study Spanish …
(WHY?)
to talk to my friends.
4. These sentences have similar
meaning…
David went to the social
because he wanted to
have fun.
They stopped on the
road because they
wanted to give
Lavender a ride.
Lavender borrowed
Robert’s coat because
she wanted to get
warm.
David went to the social
to have fun.
They stopped on the
road to give Lavender
a ride.
Lavender borrowed
Robert’s coat to get
warm.
5. Add “in order” before the infinitive in
formal speech (optional)
Original sentence:
David went to the social because he wanted to
have fun.
Sentence with infinitive of purpose:
David went to the social to have fun.
Sentence with “in order” added (more formal):
David went to the social in order to have fun.
• All of these sentences have similar
6. What about negative sentences?
These sentences have similar
meaning ….
They dropped Lavender
off at the top of the
driveway because they
didn’t want to make her
parents angry.
They asked if Lavender
was going to the dance
because they didn’t
want to go to the dance
without a date.
They dropped Lavender
off at the top of the
driveway in order not
to make her parents
angry.
They asked if Lavender
was going to the dance
in order not to go to
the dance without a
date.
7. Negatives MUST have “in order not”
Original sentence:
They dropped Lavender off at the top of the
driveway because they didn’t want to make her
parents angry.
Sentence with infinitive of purpose (NEGATIVE):
They dropped Lavender off at the top of the
driveway in order not to make her parents angry.
8. Why are infinitives of purpose
important?
You will hear them all the time! (Ex: I went to the
store to get milk.)
They are very important in academic language.
(Ex: Research was conducted to explore the
environmental problem.)
9. Practice!
With a partner, discuss why you are studying English.
Use infinitives of purpose. Try to also use “in order to”.
Examples: I am studying English to find a job in
the United States. I am studying English in order to
understand my co-workers better.
Choose one person to report a comparison of your
reasons. Are your reasons similar or different?
Example: Our reasons for studying English are
different. Denisse is studying English to prepare for
college in the United States. I am studying
English in order to get a job.
Example: Our reasons for studying English are
similar. We are both studying English to improve our
listening skills.
