Question

what kind of phrase is to swim in the sentence he wants to swim?

a gerund phrase
b participial phrase
c infinitive phrase
d noun phrase

Explanation:

Identify the target phrase

The question asks to classify the phrase "to swim" in the sentence "He wants to swim."

Analyze the structure of the phrase

Using our knowledge of Phrases and Clauses, we examine the components of "to swim." It consists of the word "to" followed by the base form of the verb "swim."

Define the grammatical category

A phrase formed by "to" plus a verb is called an infinitive. Therefore, "to swim" functions as an infinitive phrase.

Evaluate the given options

• (A) Gerund phrase: Gerunds end in "-ing" and function as nouns.
• (B) Participial phrase: Participles function as adjectives (ending in "-ing" or "-ed").
• (C) Infinitive phrase: Matches the "to + verb" structure.
• (D) Noun phrase: While the infinitive phrase functions as a noun here, its specific structural classification is an infinitive phrase.

Answer:

• (A) Gerund phrase
• (B) Participial phrase
• (C) Infinitive phrase (Correct answer)
• (D) Noun phrase