Verbals
Verbal Phrase =
• A phrase that is centered around a verb form.
• This verb form is NOT used as a verb in the sentence
• It is used as a noun, adjective or adverb.
There are 3 kinds of verbals or verbal phrases:
GERUND
PARITCIPLE
INFINITIVE
Gerund
What?
- ing
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
• …centers around a verb form ending in -ING
• …is always used as a noun
• …is never surrounded by commas (except for appositives)
• Caution! -ING verb forms can also be
verbs or adjectives (These are NOT gerunds.)
• …can be used in each of the 6 noun positions
Not all -ING words are
Gerunds:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
morning
evening
something
nothing
anything
everything
She is driving to school today.
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
EXAMPLES:
• Swimming the mile is my best event.
• I like swimming the mile.
• My best event is swimming the mile.
• I gave swimming the mile a try.
• He lectured us about swimming the mile.
• My best event, swimming the mile, was canceled.
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
ANSWERS:
• Swimming the mile is my best event. (Subject)
• I like swimming the mile. (DO)
• My best event is swimming the mile. (PN)
• I gave swimming the mile a try. (IO)
• He lectured us about swimming the mile. (OP)
• My best event, swimming the mile, was canceled. (APP)
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
EXAMPLES:
• His sister was dancing in the show.
• I hate practicing the piano.
• I gave my mom’s cooking a perfect 10.
• Sitting by the pool is quite relaxing.
• Wishing upon a star, Sue imagined a better life.
• While I was walking on the beach, I found a sand dollar.
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
ANSWERS:
• His sister was dancing in the show. (not a gerund, verb phrase)
• I hate practicing the piano. (DO)
• I gave my mom’s cooking a perfect 10. (IO)
• Sitting by the pool is quite relaxing. (S)
• Wishing upon a star, Sue imagined a better life.
(not a gerund, participial phrase)
• While I was walking on the beach, I found a sand dollar.
(not a gerund, clause)
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
EXAMPLES:
• Becoming a doctor takes years of serious study.
• Kino’s specialty is cooking mushrooms.
• The subtle squeaking of the door hinges told Mira that her
sister was home.
• Carla decided on writing about famous women in history.
• Mr. Riley enjoys the crackling of a campfire on a winter’s
evening.
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
ANSWERS:
• Becoming a doctor takes years of serious study. (S)
• Kino’s specialty is cooking mushrooms. (PN)
• The subtle squeaking of the door hinges told Mira that her
sister was home. (S)
• Carla decided on writing about famous women in history. (OP)
• Mr. Riley enjoys the crackling of a campfire on a winter’s
evening. (DO)
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
EXAMPLES:
• Traveling to new and interesting places is fun.
• The smiling child amused his parents.
• Give playing golf another chance.
• Pam is studying for her French exam.
• Holding onto the kite, Jeremy received a cut.
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
ANSWERS:
• Traveling to new and interesting places is fun. (S)
• The smiling child amused his parents. (not a gerund, participle)
• Give playing golf another chance. (IO)
• Pam is studying for her French exam. (not a gerund, verb phrase)
• Holding onto the kite, Jeremy received a cut.
(not a gerund, participial phrase)
Gerund / Gerund Phrase
patterns to look for…
+ verb …
Subject
Subject + linking verb +
PN
Subject + action verb +
DO
Subject + action verb (usu. give) +
Preposition +
S,
Appositive
OP
, verb…
(Other combinations are possible for this one.)
IO
DO
Participle
What kind?
Which one?
-ing
-d
-ed
-n
-en
-nt
Participles…
• are verb forms that act like adjectives.
• can end in –ing, -d, -ed, -n, -en, nt
• will come as close as they can to the noun they modify
• can come BEFORE or AFTER the noun it modifies
Participles
Examples:
• The frowning clown fell down. (article/ adj./noun)
• The clown, frowning at the crowd, fell down.
• Frowning at the crowd, the clown fell down.
Participial Phrases…
• may fall at the beginning of the sentence.
• If so, it will be separated from the sentence
with a comma
Example:
• Bent by the wind, the tree finally fell over.
Find the participles:
• The fallen tree blocked the road.
• Mary had to replace the soiled carpet.
• Mike’s goal was hiking the Rockies.
• The running water eroded the soil.
• We finally got our own swimming pool.
• Eating jalapeno peppers can be painful.
Find the participles (Answers)
• The fallen tree blocked the road.
• Mary had to replace the soiled carpet.
• Mike’s goal was hiking the Rockies. (gerund)
• The running water eroded the soil.
• We finally got our own swimming pool.
• Eating jalapeno peppers can be painful. (gerund)
Find the participial phrases:
• Running quickly, the puppy caught up with
the family.
• Seeing my family made me feel safe.
• Bending in the wind, the tree finally fell.
• The wind, whipping through the valley, did
extensive damage.
• I saw my uncle waiting for me.
Find the participial phrases
(Answers)
• Running quickly, the puppy caught up with
the family.
• Seeing my family made me feel safe. (gerund)
• Bending in the wind, the tree finally fell.
• The wind, whipping through the valley, did
extensive damage.
• I saw my uncle waiting for me.
Find the participial phrases:
• Granny’s goal, quilting a huge quilt, will have to
wait until spring.
• Martha’s hobby is sewing for the family.
• Sitting by the dock, Bob felt lonely.
• The boy sitting by the bay was my cousin.
• Not watching his steps, the toddler fell down.
Find the participial phrases
(Answers)
• Granny’s goal, quilting a huge quilt, will have to
wait until spring. (gerund / appositive)
• Martha’s hobby is sewing for the family. (gerund)
• Sitting by the dock, Bob felt lonely.
• The boy sitting by the bay was my cousin.
• Not watching his steps, the toddler fell down.
Participle / Participial Phrase
patterns to look for…
participial phrase , Subject + verb…
Subject, participial phrase
, verb…
Subject + verb +DO participial phrase
Preposition + OP
Article
participle
participial phrase
Noun
What? (NOUN)
Which one? (ADJ.)
What kind? (ADJ.)
Why? (ADV.)
Infinitive
to + verb
Infinitive RULES:
• Center around TO + verb
• Verb is “naked” – No endings (-ing, -ed, etc.)
• Examples: to go, to sit, to talk, etc.
• Can be used as noun, adj. or adv.
• Caution! Do not confuse with
prepositional phrases using “to”
(to school, to me, to us, to them, to lunch, etc.)
Find the Infinitives
• I wanted to go to the mall today.
• My mom went to bed early.
• Your cat ate too much food today.
• To sleep all day is unhealthy.
• I want to ask you a question.
Find the Infinitive Phrases:
• I went to the pond to fish for bass.
• I have to go to the mall before supper.
• To make good grades, one must study.
• My goal is to make good grades.
• I sat with the team to give them my support.
• Don’t try to get out of here too fast.
Infinitive Phrases used as
NOUNS:
• I want to get a car for my birthday.
• My goal is to get a car for my birthday.
• To get a car for my birthday would be
wonderful.
• My goal, to get a car for my birthday, may
never happen.
Which two noun positions are not used?
Infinitive Phrases used as
ADJECTIVES:
• The movie to see is Avatar.
• I missed the road to take to the beach.
• The place to see moose is Canada.
• I need a place to keep my book bag.
Adjective infinitive phrases will come directly after a noun
and modify it by answering “which?” or “what kind?.”
Infinitive Phrases used as
ADVERBS:
• I went to the pond to fish.
• To get into Harvard, you must study.
• I am happy to be here.
• I am sad to see you go.
An infinitive phrase that comes first in a sentence MAY be
an adverb, but it will have a comma after it. Adverb infinitive
phrases usually answer “why?” or “how?.”
Some famous Infinitives :
• “To be or not to be, that is the question.”
• “To know me is to love me.”
• “You’ve got to live a little.”
• “I vant to drink your bloooooood.”
• “I wanna hold your hand.”
• “I’ve only just begun to fight.”
• “To boldly go where no man has gone before…”
(split infinitive)