

Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitive Phrases
 L.8.1a
- Explain the function of verbals
(gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general
and their function in particular sentences.
A
gerund is a verb form ending in “–ing” that
is used as a noun.

Examples
o Skiing down the slope was fun.
o Dad’s favorite past time is fishing for trout
and bass.
o Give sailing a try.
 In
the past, working took up most people’s time six
days a week.
 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s powerful speaking
helped draw attention to the civil rights movement.
 My sister has always enjoyed riding horseback.
 Why won’t that dog stop barking?
 Uncle Eli’s specialty is barbecuing on the grill.
 Studying usually pays off in higher scores.
 An
infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a
noun, adjective or adverb. The best way to identify
an infinitive is to look for the word ‘to’ followed by a
verb.
o To + verb = infinitive

Examples
o To install the ceiling fan took two hours.
o Winona’s ambition is to become a doctor
o The best time to visit Florida is December through April
o The gymnasts were ready to practice their routines.
 After
school, June and I like to walk home together.
 Usually, we go to my house or her house to listen to
CDs.
 I don’t like to sit still when a good song is playing.
 June finally told me that she have never learned
how to dance.
 “Do you want to learn some steps?” I asked.
 “I want to try,” she answered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyr5WhdXoE8
o (compilation video, stop at 2:22)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mjGsdF
3k1s
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Na na na, na na, na na na na
Hey Jude, don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you? Hey Jude,
you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Na na na, na na, na na na na, yeah
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
Better, better, better, better, better, oh!
Na na na, na-na na na
Na-na na na, hey Jude
Na na na, na-na na na
Na-na na na, hey Jude
o Divide into groups of 4
o Each group will receive at least 8 cards
o Each group makes as many matches as possible. The matches must
be grammatically correct and logical. (It is sometimes possible for a
group not to make any matches initially, although that is rare.)
o When a group can make no more matches, it goes to other groups
to look for a trade. Important: Students cannot just take a card from
a group; they must trade. A group does not have to trade a card just
because another group wants it. Usually, two students stay with the
matches to make trades, while the other two go to different groups
to see if they can make trades. Usually the students split up the
unmatched cards: the students staying to make trades keep some,
and the students looking for matches take others.
o When one group has made all its matches and the students think
they are correct, the game stops. One group member (or members
taking turns) reads out the matches. The other groups vote to
accept or reject each match. A match can be rejected because it is
not grammatical or not logical. If all matches are accepted, the
game is over and that team wins.
o Get into groups of 4
o Send one representative to get a die and board
game for your group.
o Find 4 game pieces
o Roll the die. When a student lands on a space with a
sentence, he/she must provide the correct form
(gerund, infinitive, or base form) of the underlined
verb. The other players are judges. If the space is
blank, the student stops and waits for his/her next
turn
o The first player to read the end wins.
A
participle is a verbal that is used as an
adjective and most often ends in -ing or -ed.
o (Do not confuse participles with gerunds! Participles act
as ADJECTIVES)
 Examples
o The smiling child waved.
o The police officers searched the abandoned warehouse.
o The horses, trotting past were not frightened by the
crowd.
 Records,
cracked and warped, were in the old trunk
in the attic.
 The children, fidgeting noisily, waited eagerly for
recess.
 Recently released, the movie is not yet in local
theaters.
 The charging bull thundered across the field of red
and orange poppies.
 Cheering and clapping, the spectators greeted their
team.
 Using
the handout “That’s Entertaining!”,
identify gerund, infinitive, or participle in the
following movie, music group, or song titles: