[Grammar] Infinitive verb or a preposition+ verb

[Diana82]

Example: He went to the farm to milk the goat.
The to+infinitive is usually used as a noun, adjective or an adverb because it does not accept the third person singular S, for example. What is it used for in the case of the above sentence?
What do you think?
Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Rover_KE]

What is the source of your example and the following sentence?

 

[Diana82]

No source. I wanted to know how TO MILK works within a sentence. I formed the sentence using the verb TO MILK, and I'm not sure how it is used here. I'm sure that it is a to+infinitive form, but because infinitives are not verbs (never accept -ing, s, or -ed), I'm not sure if the infinitive here works like a noun or something else. I would say a noun or adjective, but not sure.

 

[MikeNewYork]

In my opinion, "to the farm" is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb. Hint: It answers the question "Went where?". "To milk the goat" is an infinitive phrase also acting as an adverb. Hint: It answers the question "Why?". Both modify the verb "went".

 

[Diana82]

Why is it not an adjective because I think 'to milk' modifies the goat which is a noun. What do you think?

 

[Diana82]

Any examples clarifying the different positions 'to milk' can have are welcomed.

 

[MikeNewYork]

No, "goat" is the direct object of the infinitive. Because an infinitive is a verbal, even though it is not a verb, it can take a direct object.