Advanced Verb Moves: Split Infinitives & Verb Phrases
We’ve already talked about infinitives (verbs with “to” in front) and participles (verbs acting as adjectives, often ending in -ing or -ed). Now, let’s explore how they can add some fancy footwork to your sentences!
1. Split Infinitives: To Boldly Go…
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What is it? Placing an adverb between “to” and the verb in an infinitive.
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Examples:
- To boldly go where no one has gone before.
- She decided to quickly finish her homework.
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Why use it?
- Adds emphasis to the adverb.
- Can make a sentence sound more natural.
- But… some people think it’s grammatically incorrect, so use it carefully!
2. Verb Phrases: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
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What are they? A group of words that work together as a single verb.
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Examples:
- She is singing a song. (Helping verb “is” + main verb “singing”)
- They have been studying all day. (Helping verbs “have been” + main verb “studying”)
- He might go to the party. (Modal verb “might” + main verb “go”)
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Why use them?
- To express complex ideas about time (past, present, future).
- To show possibility, ability, or necessity.
Let’s Practice!
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Split It Up! Rewrite the sentences using a split infinitive for emphasis:
- He wanted to leave the meeting immediately.
- She decided to carefully review her essay.
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Find the Verb Phrase: Underline the verb phrase in each sentence.
- I have been living in this city for five years.
- They will be traveling to Europe next summer.
- She could have won the race if she had trained harder.
Challenge:
Write a paragraph about your dream job. Use at least one split infinitive and two different verb phrases.
