Split infinitive

 Split infinitive

A split infinitive occurs when an adverb or adverbial phrase is placed between the "to" and the base verb form in an infinitive verb construction. In English, infinitives are the base form of a verb preceded by the word "to," such as "to run," "to eat," or "to study." When an adverb is inserted between "to" and the base verb, creating a split infinitive, it can create emphasis or clarify meaning.

Examples of Split Infinitives:

1. She decided to quickly finish her homework.
2. He promised to carefully consider the proposal.
3. They wanted to really understand the concept.
4. She tried to gently break the news.

In each of these examples, the adverbs ("quickly," "carefully," "really," and "gently") split the infinitive by coming between "to" and the base verb form. While some traditional grammar guides once discouraged split infinitives, modern English grammar generally accepts them. However, it's still important to consider the context and readability of the sentence. In some cases, rephrasing the sentence might be a good idea if the split infinitive makes the sentence awkward or unclear.