The infinitive may be used as the complement of verbs of incomplete predication; as, He appeared to hesitate.

There are two infinitives, the simple infinitive with or without to, and the infinitive in ing; as, I like to row a boat. He may go. She is fond of writing letters.

The infinitive in ing is sometimes called a gerund.

The infinitive has a variety of uses. Its grammatical value in English is always determined by its function in the sentence.

Name the infinitives in the following sentences, tell the grammatical value of each, and state the reason:—

1.To read well is an accomplishment.
2.I am glad to hear it.
3.This man has a house to rent.
4.There is little hope of finding him.
5.To hesitate is to fail.
6.She was about to leave.
7.Poverty is hard to bear.
8.When the rain ceased to fall, the wind began to blow.
9.I prefer to starve first.
10.There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall a while repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there.—Collins.

LESSON XXXIX.

THE PARTICIPLE.

Select the words in the following sentences that are used to modify nouns, and also imply action or being:—