Avoiding Split Infinitives

Directions:

Underline the words that split the infinitives in the sentences below. Then draw slash (/) to show one place to which the underlined word could be moved.

Example:

Insect repellents discourage insects, but they’re not / able to actually kill them.

1.      Good soup does not need to necessarily be expensive.

2.      Antonina hopes to definitely take advantage of the ten dollar discount offered at Hair You Are this week.

3.      When Kay went to finally get her pendant appraised, she found out that it was worth only fifteen dollars.

4.      To safely roller skate, a skater should wear knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet.

5.      Luis plans to immediately fly to Puerto Rico after final exams are over.

6.      The new management’s main policies are to severely cut salaries of middle managers and to take more marketing risks.

7.      A housefly is able to sometimes live for seventy-six days.

8.      An eighteen-wheeler truck is mounted on a fuel tower to dramatically advertise Eddie’s Quick Stop Truckers’ Heaven.

9.      Several new magazines are designed to directly appeal to African-American readers.

10.  Legal ethics require a lawyer to immediately report the unethical actions of another lawyer.

Return to Verbal Page