In English grammar, "full infinitives" refer to the base form of a verb preceded by the word "to." Here's a breakdown:
What is a Full Infinitive?
* Form:
* It consists of "to" + the base form of a verb (e.g., to eat, to sleep, to run).
* Purpose:
* Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs within a sentence.
Key Points:
* Distinction from Bare Infinitives:
* A "bare infinitive" is the base form of the verb without "to" (e.g., eat, sleep, run). Bare infinitives are used after modal verbs (can, could, may, might, etc.) and certain other verbs.
* Functions:
* As nouns: "To err is human." (Here, "to err" is the subject of the sentence.)
* As adjectives: "I need something to drink." (Here, "to drink" modifies "something.")
* As adverbs: "She went to the store to buy milk." (Here, "to buy milk" explains why she went to the store.)
* Usage:
* Full infinitives are commonly used after certain verbs (e.g., want, need, decide, agree, hope, learn, promise).
* They are also used to express purpose, possibility, and opinion.
Example Sentences:
* "I want to travel." (Noun-like function)
* "It is important to study." (Noun-like function)
* "She has a desire to succeed." (Adjective-like function)
* "We went outside to play." (Adverb-like function)
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