Adding Variety to Your WritingAdding Variety to Your Writing

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• Have you ever Have you ever felt as if your felt as if your writing is writing is monotonous monotonous and dull?and dull?

• If so, bring it to If so, bring it to life by varying life by varying your sentence your sentence structure.structure.

Try Using These Special Try Using These Special PhrasesPhrases

ParticiplParticipl

e e PhrasesPhrases

GerunGerunddPhrasePhrasess

Infinitive Infinitive PhrasesPhrases

ImportantImportantDefinitionDefinition

• A gerund is the A gerund is the -ing form of a -ing form of a verb functioning verb functioning in the sentence as in the sentence as a noun.a noun.

Strange . . . It looks like a verb, but it acts like a noun.

Gerunds as SubjectsGerunds as Subjects• Some gerunds function as the subject of the sentence. Some gerunds function as the subject of the sentence. • The subject identifies who or what the sentence is The subject identifies who or what the sentence is

about.about.

• PaintingPainting is Jim’s favorite is Jim’s favorite hobby.hobby.

• GardeningGardening keeps Aunt keeps Aunt Ruth busy for hours.Ruth busy for hours.

Gerunds as Direct ObjectsGerunds as Direct Objects

• My entire family likes My entire family likes bowlingbowling. (The verb is . (The verb is likeslikes. . BowlingBowling tells tells whatwhat the family the family likes.)likes.)

• The dirty floor required The dirty floor required moppingmopping. (The verb is . (The verb is requiredrequired. . MoppingMopping tells what tells what the dirty floor required.)the dirty floor required.)

Direct objects follow the verb and identify the Direct objects follow the verb and identify the receiver of the action.receiver of the action.

Gerunds as Objects of the Gerunds as Objects of the PrepositionPreposition

• Will Rogers was famous for Will Rogers was famous for ropingroping. (. (RopingRoping follows the preposition follows the preposition forfor and identifies a and identifies a cause of his fame.)cause of his fame.)

• Derek finished work before Derek finished work before skateboarding. skateboarding. (Skateboarding follows the preposition(Skateboarding follows the preposition before before.).)

Common PrepositionsCommon Prepositions

• aboveabove• aboutabout• acrossacross• amongamong• aroundaround• atat• beforebefore• below, beneathbelow, beneath• besidebeside• betweenbetween• byby

• forfor• fromfrom• in, into, insidein, into, inside• ofof• offoff• overover• throughthrough• to, towardto, toward• underunder• uponupon• withwith

Gerund Phrases as Gerund Phrases as SubjectsSubjects

• Singing with a country Singing with a country bandband occupies most of occupies most of my brother’s weekend.my brother’s weekend.

• Crying at the top of his Crying at the top of his lungslungs generally got little generally got little Joey what he wanted.Joey what he wanted.

Gerund Phrases as ObjectsGerund Phrases as Objects

• Herrmann the Great demonstrated Herrmann the Great demonstrated making a making a rabbit appear from an empty hat. rabbit appear from an empty hat.

• For our final few minutes at Frontier City, we For our final few minutes at Frontier City, we chose chose riding the roller coaster.riding the roller coaster.

Gerund Phrases as Objects Gerund Phrases as Objects of the Prepositionof the Preposition

• David enjoys the David enjoys the ancient Japanese ancient Japanese art art ofof raising bonsai raising bonsai treestrees..

• Have you ever tried Have you ever tried relaxing relaxing byby watching watching tropical fishtropical fish??

Identify the Gerund PhraseIdentify the Gerund Phrase

• Hitting a grand slam homerun enabled Raphael Hitting a grand slam homerun enabled Raphael to win the game for his team.to win the game for his team.

• Charles was ready for a quiet evening at home Charles was ready for a quiet evening at home after flying a rescue mission in the mountains.after flying a rescue mission in the mountains.

Gerund Phrase IdentifiedGerund Phrase Identified

• Hitting a grand slam homerunHitting a grand slam homerun enabled Raphael enabled Raphael to win the game for his team. (subject)to win the game for his team. (subject)

• Charles was ready for a quiet evening at home Charles was ready for a quiet evening at home after after flying a rescue mission in the mountainsflying a rescue mission in the mountains. . (object of the preposition(object of the preposition after after))

Identify the Gerund Identify the Gerund PhrasesPhrases

• Steve succeeded in Steve succeeded in climbing the mountain.climbing the mountain.

• When the director When the director finished yelling at the finished yelling at the production crew, he production crew, he felt much better.felt much better.

Identify the Gerund Identify the Gerund PhrasesPhrases

• Steve succeeded at Steve succeeded at climbing the mountainclimbing the mountain. . (object of the (object of the prepositionpreposition at at))

• When the director When the director finished finished yelling at the yelling at the production crewproduction crew, he , he felt much better. felt much better. (object of the verb (object of the verb finished, telling what finished, telling what he finished.)he finished.)

Identify the Gerund Identify the Gerund PhrasesPhrases

• Yelling at the Yelling at the production crew production crew made the director made the director feel much better. feel much better.

Identify the Gerund Identify the Gerund PhrasesPhrases

• Yelling at the Yelling at the production crew production crew made the director made the director feel much better. feel much better. (subject telling (subject telling whatwhat made Jack made Jack feel better)feel better)

• Like a participle, a gerund can sometimes be accompanied by other words that complete its meaning.

• A gerund phrase consists of a gerund accompanied by an adjective, an adverb, a direct object, or a prepositional phrase.

Examples• (gerund + D.O.)

• Wearing tight shoes hurts.

(adjective + gerund)

• Long-distance running is fun.

(gerund + prepositional phrase)

• I like dancing on ice.

(gerund + adverb)

• Performing alone is his dream.

Gerund phrases, like gerunds alone, function as nouns in a sentence. Like a noun, a gerund phrase can be a subject, a

D.O., an object of the preposition, or a predicate noun. Subject Preparing for a concert takes time.

Direct Object Lane began practicing his flute.

Object of Preposition

Before playing the music, he studied it.

Predicate Noun

His big challenge was walking onstage.

Be careful not to confuse a gerund phrase with a participial phrase. If the phrase functions as a subject, an object, or a predicate noun in the sentence it is a gerund phrase. If it

serves as an adjective, it is a participial phrase. Gerund Phrase: Singing softly was difficult. (subject)

Participial Phrase:

Singing softly, he calmed the baby.

Gerund Phrase We began singing the song. (direct object)

Participial Phrase:

The girl singing the song is Pat.

Identify each gerund phrase. What is each phrase’s function in the sentence?

1. Skating at night is my hobby.2. Bart received the prize for being the best tenor. 3. Bart had many solo parts for playing in the orchestra.4. You should try singing high C.5. Humming in the background, the chorus set a mood. 6. Appearing with a professional cast was Kristen’s dream. 7. Facing the audience can be the hardest part. 8. Practicing day and night is a necessary ingredient for

succeeding as an opera singer. 9. The members taking their seats began tuning their instruments. 10. The violin section playing the tragic melody was not doing the

best job in the performance.

Possessives in Gerund Phrases

• Always use the possessive form of a noun or pronoun before a gerund.

Which is correct?• 11. I warned Gino about (them, their) being late. • 12. I don’t appreciate (him, his) talking back to me. • 13. (Fran, Fran’s) leaving will solve the problem. • 14. (Me, My) being there was a help. • 15. That ended (Martha, Martha’s) disrupting the

rehearsals.• 16. We are delighted by (Joe, Joe’s) sensitive acting.• 17. (Him, His) continuing with the show is essential to its

success. • 18. (Us, Our) agreeing on how the other minor roles should

be handled was also important.

Identify each gerund phrase. Does each gerund phrase act as a subject, a direct object, an object of a preposition, or a

predicate noun?

• 19. The program’s goal is providing students with a variety of artistic opportunities.

• 20. Few question the benefits of encouraging talents.

• 21. The problem is obtaining the necessary money. • 22. People find different ways of raising funds. • 23. Asking for funds is an important activity. • 24. Supporters must continue advertising the

program.

Identify each gerund phrase and participial phrase. Does each gerund phrase act as a subject, a direct object, an object of a

preposition, or a predicate noun?

• 25. Now the group will try campaigning on a large scale.

• 26. Starting such a campaign is a challenging task. • 27. Requesting funds and other forms of assistance

from large corporations will be the first strategy. • 28. Contacting firms is the director’s role. • 29. Companies find different ways of being helpful. • 30. Helping young artists is a worthwhile cause.

ImportantImportantDefinitionDefinition

• A participle is a A participle is a verb form used as verb form used as an adjective (a an adjective (a descriptive word).descriptive word).

Strange . . . Strange . . . It looks like a verb, but It looks like a verb, but it acts like an adjective. it acts like an adjective.

Present & Past ParticiplesPresent & Past Participles

• Present participles Present participles end in -ing.end in -ing.

• Past participles end Past participles end in -ed or have in -ed or have irregular endings.irregular endings.

Remember this:

ExamplesExamples

• TheThe laughinglaughing child held up herchild held up her brimmingbrimming piggy piggy bank.bank.

• With aWith a cramped cramped leg, theleg, the screamingscreaming boy boy waded out of the waded out of the poolpool..

• Notice that each of these Notice that each of these -ing or -ed words acts as -ing or -ed words acts as an adjective by describing an adjective by describing another word.another word.

• LaughingLaughing describes describes childchild..• BrimmingBrimming describes the describes the

bankbank..• CrampedCramped describes describes legleg..• ScreamingScreaming describes describes boyboy.

• Outside the Halloween Outside the Halloween spook house, dozens of spook house, dozens of grinning skeletons grinning skeletons greeted the visitors.greeted the visitors.

Identify the Descriptive Identify the Descriptive ParticiplesParticiples

• Tired, I spilled the Tired, I spilled the steaming coffee.steaming coffee.

• Outside the Outside the Halloween spook Halloween spook house, dozens ofhouse, dozens of grinninggrinning skeletons skeletons greeted the greeted the visitors.visitors.

• TiredTired, , I spilled theI spilled the steamingsteaming coffee.coffee.

Descriptive Participles Descriptive Participles IdentifiedIdentified

Identify the Descriptive Identify the Descriptive ParticiplesParticiples

• After the torrential After the torrential rain, I returned rain, I returned home to a flooded home to a flooded basement.basement.

• I read the gripping I read the gripping spy novel until 2:00 spy novel until 2:00 a.m.a.m.

Irregular ParticiplesIrregular Participles

• Although most participles end in -ing and -ed, Although most participles end in -ing and -ed, some are irregular. To identify the verbs with some are irregular. To identify the verbs with irregular participles, think of the form correctly irregular participles, think of the form correctly used with the helping verbs used with the helping verbs havehave, , hashas, and , and hadhad..

• Example: Example: Built to lastBuilt to last, the great pyramids of , the great pyramids of Egypt may be around for the next millenium.Egypt may be around for the next millenium.

• Built to lastBuilt to last, the great pyramids of Egypt may be , the great pyramids of Egypt may be around for the next millenium.around for the next millenium.

• Notice that the phrase “built to last” works as an Notice that the phrase “built to last” works as an adjective to describe the word adjective to describe the word pyramids; pyramids; therefore, it is a participial phrase.therefore, it is a participial phrase.

• However, you’ll see that the participle form, in However, you’ll see that the participle form, in this case, doesn’t end in -ed or -ing. this case, doesn’t end in -ed or -ing.

• To indicate past tense, as in the following To indicate past tense, as in the following sentence, we don’t say builded: The two sentence, we don’t say builded: The two children children buildedbuilded an elaborate sand castle. an elaborate sand castle.

• Instead, we would write “The two children Instead, we would write “The two children built built an elaborate sandcastle.”an elaborate sandcastle.”

• This is one of many irregular verbs.This is one of many irregular verbs.

Descriptive Participles Descriptive Participles IdentifiedIdentified

• After the torrential After the torrential rain, I returned rain, I returned home to a home to a floodedflooded basement.basement.

• I read the I read the gripping gripping spy novel until 2:00 spy novel until 2:00 a.m.a.m.

Participial PhrasesParticipial Phrases

• You have seen several examples of You have seen several examples of single word participles ending with -ing single word participles ending with -ing and -ed.and -ed.

• Some participles do not appear alone, Some participles do not appear alone, but instead as the first word of a phrase.but instead as the first word of a phrase.

• This phrase still serves as an adjective This phrase still serves as an adjective and, therefore, describes a noun.and, therefore, describes a noun.

How to Identify the How to Identify the Correct Past Participle Correct Past Participle

FormForm• If you are not sure what the correct past If you are not sure what the correct past

participle form is, pick the form that would be participle form is, pick the form that would be correctly used following the helping verbs correctly used following the helping verbs hashas, , havehave, or , or hadhad..

• For example, the past participle of the verb For example, the past participle of the verb taketake is is takentaken..

• You can tell by trying the verb with the words You can tell by trying the verb with the words listed above: has taken, have taken, had listed above: has taken, have taken, had taken.taken.

A Few Examples of Irregular A Few Examples of Irregular Verbs and Their Past Verbs and Their Past

ParticiplesParticiples• begin-begun

• blow-blown

• bring-brought

• catch-caught

• choose-chosen

• draw-drew

• eat-eaten

• fall-fallen

• fly-flown

• forget-forgotten

• forgive-forgiven

• freeze-frozen

• go-gone

• hear-heard

• hold-held

• ride-ridden

• rise-risen

• speak-spoken

• think-thought

• wear-worn

Examples of Participial Examples of Participial PhrasesPhrases

• Laughing gleefully, Laughing gleefully, the child held up her the child held up her piggy bank. piggy bank.

• Notice that “Laughing Notice that “Laughing gleefully” works as a gleefully” works as a participial phrase participial phrase describing the noun describing the noun childchild..

• Attacked by a sudden Attacked by a sudden leg crampleg cramp, the , the screaming boy waded screaming boy waded out of the pool.out of the pool.

• Notice that “Attacked Notice that “Attacked by a sudden leg by a sudden leg cramp” acts as a cramp” acts as a participial phrase participial phrase describing the noun describing the noun boyboy..

Identify the Participial Identify the Participial PhrasePhrase

• Listening intently, the Listening intently, the students translated students translated Spanish sentences into Spanish sentences into English.English.

• Using a hoe and a rake, Using a hoe and a rake, Steve cleared the dead Steve cleared the dead plants from the garden.plants from the garden.

Participial Phrases IdentifiedParticipial Phrases Identified• Listening intentlyListening intently, the , the

students translated students translated Spanish sentences into Spanish sentences into English. English. (describes the (describes the noun students)noun students)

• Using a hoe and a rakeUsing a hoe and a rake, , Steve cleared the dead Steve cleared the dead plants from the garden. plants from the garden. (describes the noun (describes the noun SteveSteve))

ImportantImportantDefinitionDefinition

• An infinitive is the An infinitive is the word word to to plus the plus the base form of the base form of the verb.verb.

Strange . . . Strange . . . It looks like a verb, but It looks like a verb, but it’s preceded by the it’s preceded by the wordword to to..

Examples of InfinitivesExamples of Infinitives

• We started We started to practiceto practice for the concert. for the concert.

• It’s time It’s time to raketo rake the yard. the yard.

• I asked Jeff I asked Jeff to goto go sailing on Grand sailing on Grand Lake.Lake.

NoteNote• When followed by anything other than a verb, the When followed by anything other than a verb, the

wordword toto forms a prepositional phrase rather than an forms a prepositional phrase rather than an infinitive.infinitive.

• Examples:Examples:– I took the ferry I took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. to the Statue of Liberty. – I went I went to the post officeto the post office to mail the package. to mail the package.

(Notice that the sentence also contains the (Notice that the sentence also contains the infinitive “to mail.”)infinitive “to mail.”)

– I gave the giftI gave the gift to Michael to Michael– I need to talkI need to talk to her. to her. (This sentence also contains (This sentence also contains

the infinitive “to talk.”)the infinitive “to talk.”)

Identify the Infinitives.Identify the Infinitives.

• Sally decided to Sally decided to enter the Tulsa enter the Tulsa Run.Run.

• Brad learned to Brad learned to operate the new operate the new photocopier.photocopier.

Identify the InfinitivesIdentify the Infinitives

• Sally decided Sally decided to to enterenter the Tulsa Run. the Tulsa Run.

• Brad learned Brad learned to to operateoperate the new the new photocopier.photocopier.

Identify the Infinitive PhrasesIdentify the Infinitive Phrases

• When they went to the Fourth of July parade, When they went to the Fourth of July parade, they began to wave their flags.they began to wave their flags.

• Charles paid a visit to the gypsy fortune teller Charles paid a visit to the gypsy fortune teller to learn what the new year would bring.to learn what the new year would bring.

Infinitive Phrases IdentifiedInfinitive Phrases Identified

• When they went to the Fourth of July parade, When they went to the Fourth of July parade, they began they began to waveto wave their flags. their flags.

• Charles paid a visit to the gypsy fortune teller Charles paid a visit to the gypsy fortune teller to learnto learn what the new year would bring. what the new year would bring.

Remember . . .Remember . . .

You can bring You can bring monotonous monotonous sentences to life sentences to life by using gerund, by using gerund, participial , and participial , and infinitive phrases infinitive phrases in your writing.in your writing.