Is Not To Infinitive

The phrase “Is Not To Infinitive” might sound perplexing at first. It’s less about what *is* an infinitive and more about identifying verb constructions that *look* like infinitives but actually function differently in a sentence. Understanding what “Is Not To Infinitive” helps you refine your grammatical accuracy and avoid common errors in writing.

Decoding the Imposter Infinitives

The “to infinitive” form of a verb is easily recognizable. It’s the word “to” followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., to run, to eat, to think). However, certain words and phrases can sneakily appear before the base form of a verb, creating the illusion of an infinitive when, in fact, the “to” is functioning as a preposition. This is where the concept of “Is Not To Infinitive” becomes crucial for precise grammar. Let’s look at some examples:

• “Accustomed to”
• “Dedicated to”
• “Opposed to”
• “Looking forward to”

In these instances, “to” is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. Prepositions are followed by nouns or pronouns (the object of the preposition), or gerunds (verb forms ending in -ing that function as nouns). Therefore, instead of saying “I am looking forward to see you,” the grammatically correct sentence is “I am looking forward to seeing you.” Here’s a quick breakdown:

1. Identify phrases that often precede a verb and contain “to.”
2. Determine if “to” functions as a preposition. A helpful test: can you replace “to” with another preposition like “with” or “at” and have the sentence still make sense, even if the meaning changes?
3. If it’s a preposition, the verb that follows must be a gerund (-ing form).

Confusion also arises with compound prepositions. These are multi-word prepositions where “to” is an integral part of the prepositional phrase. For example:

If you’d like to delve deeper into this topic and explore more examples of instances where “to” isn’t part of an infinitive, consult a comprehensive grammar guide available from authoritative sources.