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If I want to use an infinitive as an adverb in the sentence then can I use it with any verb or specific verb?

suppose I want to say " I went there to drive the car" so here to drive the car is an adverb talking about the " went" verb so Can I use an infinitive as an adverb with any verbs? like " went"

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  • Study the difference between adverbs drivingly (in the metaphorical sense) and infinitives (purpose) to drive. Your example also makes little logical sense, (you went somewhere because you wanted to drive), did you get there on foot? Next time try to come up with a better example.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Nov 4, 2023 at 8:09
  • Personally, the original question before you deleted most of the detail did a better job of explaining your problem. The post still needed editing but from my point of view I understood what you were trying to say.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Nov 4, 2023 at 9:12
  • These are called to-infinitives and state the purpose of the main idea. I went there to [for the purpose of driving the car] drive the car.
    – Lambie
    Commented Nov 4, 2023 at 16:23

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I went there [to drive the car].

When you say 'adverb', I think you mean adjunct. An adverb is a single word like "clearly", "very" "almost" and the like.

The expression "to drive the car" is an infinitival clause functioning as a purpose adjunct: it gives the purpose of your going there.

There are a great many verbs that are performed for a particular purpose, and thus can take a purpose adjunct.

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In the example, "to drive the car" gives the purpose. It doesn't describe how you went there, it gives the reason for you to go there. It doesn't mean "I went there by car".

I went to the racetrack to drive the race car. It is illegal to drive it on the normal road, so I went by train.

You can use infinitives in clauses with any verb. But it might not always be sensible.

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