Sentence Correction

hi everyone ,
i came around a tip in one of the books for sentence correction but dint understand it completely it said
"A split infinitive is almost always incorrect"

now i know what infinitive is .. verb in the form "to+ verb"
but what does "a split infinitive" mean ???

please give an example ... if possible....

thanks

Hi readsid

Infinitive: an infinitive is the basic part of a verb, e.g., to dance, to sing, to play, to go.

Split infinitive: a split infinitive occurs when an infinitive (to dance, to sing, to play, to go) is split in two by an adverb (a word that modifies the verb). For example:

* to gracefully dance

* to horribly sing

* to aggressively play

* to boldly go

Examples :

The driver is instructed periodically to check the oil level

The driver is instructed to periodically check the oil level.

The driver is instructed to check the oil level periodically.

Do you know which sentence is the split infinitive? The second sentence is the split infinitive because "periodically" is splitting the infinitive "to check".


Hope this helps : )

woh !! that was perfect.... plz take me under ur wings ... till 9 of feb 2010 ... thats my exam date..

i could not have asked for a better explanation...

thanks a ton komal

readsid wrote:woh !! that was perfect.... plz take me under ur wings ... till 9 of feb 2010 ... thats my exam date..

i could not have asked for a better explanation...

thanks a ton komal

ur welcome : ) Wish u all the luck !!

does a split infinitive always include an adverb?

I think in the GMAT you will encounter adverbs that are splitting infinitives because that is the most deceptive. Anything else (pronoun, etc.) will quickly and easily sound very awkward.

komal wrote:

readsid wrote:woh !! that was perfect.... plz take me under ur wings ... till 9 of feb 2010 ... thats my exam date..

i could not have asked for a better explanation...

thanks a ton komal

ur welcome : ) Wish u all the luck !!

Seems one more DanaJ is coming up on the board!!!Keep it up Komal!

gmatmachoman wrote:
Seems one more DanaJ is coming up on the board!!!Keep it up Komal!

:roll: *Rolls Eyes* Thank u Thank u machoman lol j/k :roll:

money9111 wrote:does a split infinitive always include an adverb?

Most of the time a split infinitive includes adverb or adverbial phrase.But some time in compound split infinitive a pronoun may be seen. e.g "I need you to all really pull your weight"