UNIT 1 CDA

8th Grade Commas Verbs

Tense Phrases

Writing Process Steps & what takes

place Parts of an essay &

what should be in each

7th Grade Confusing Words Pronouns Writing Process

Steps & what takes place

Parts of an essay & what should be in each

The persuasive essay

Infinitives

Infinitives

To sneeze, to smash, to cry, to shriek, to jump, to dunk, to read, to eat, to slurp—all of these are infinitives. An infinitive will almost always begin with to, followed by the simple form of the verb, like this:

to + verb = infinitive Important Note: Because

an infinitive is not a verb, you cannot add s, es, ed, or ing to the end. Ever!

Examples

To sleep is the only thing Eli wants after his double shift waiting tables at the neighborhood café. (To sleep – subject; noun)

Wherever Melissa goes, she always brings a book to read in case conversation lags or she has a long wait. (to read – adjective modifying book)

More examples on page 154

Don’t confuse an infinitive with a prepositional

phrase that begins with to. Prepositional phrases always have objects that are nouns or pronouns.

Example: I handed the vase to my mother.

Warning

Exercise 10, page 155

Practice

An infinitive phrase is made up of the infinitive

(to + verb) and any modifiers the infinitive has.

The entire phrase may be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Examples, pp 155 -156

Infinitive Phrases

Exercise 11, p 156

Practice