Explain the concept of split infinitives.

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Explain the concept of split infinitives.

The concept of split infinitives refers to the act of placing an adverb or other word or phrase between the particle "to" and the base form of a verb in an infinitive phrase. In traditional grammar, it was considered incorrect to split infinitives, as it was believed to disrupt the natural flow of the verb phrase. However, modern usage and linguistic analysis have shown that split infinitives are not grammatically incorrect and can be used to add emphasis or clarity to a sentence. For example, in the sentence "She decided to quickly run to the store," the adverb "quickly" splits the infinitive "to run." Split infinitives are commonly used in English, especially in informal and spoken language, and are generally accepted in modern grammar.