Gerund

• A verb + ing that is now a noun

• Dance + ing = Dancing is fun.

• In that sentence dancing is the subject• I enjoy eating. (eating is the direct object)

• How are these gerunds used?

• We appreciated your sending the new software

documentation.

• Anthony enjoyed teaching software programs.

• Using spreadsheet software simplifies financial

calculations.

Participle

A participle is a verbal that functions as an

adjective to modify a noun or pronoun.

Verb + d, ed, or ing that is now an adjective.

A participle requires a comma to set off an

introductory participle or participial phrase.

WALKING through the park, I saw a bear.

A present participle ends in ing.Using a new keyboard, I improved my data entry

speed.

Participle

A past participle ends in ed for regular

verbs.

Determined to learn the software, she

asked Lynn for help.

The man DRESSED in black is the robber.

Dangling Participles/Misplaced Modifiers.

Participles must be used with care. They will

modify the closest noun. Consider the

following sentences:

The robber ran from the policeman, still

holding the money in his hands.

After being whipped fiercely, the cook boiled

the egg.

Flitting from flower to flower, the football

player watched the bee.

Dangling Participles

Here's another example: Walking along the beach, the sun

rose majestically over the ocean. Now, that's a nice trick. This

sentence has the sun walking along the beach!

Here's a corrected version: Walking along the beach, we saw

the sun rise majestically over the ocean. Now the participial

phrase modifies "we," as it should.

Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car seemed to run

better.

Corrected version:

Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, Fred found he could get

much better gas mileage.

Misplaced Modifiers

A modifier is a word or a phrase that describes

something else. You should place it as close as

possible to what it describes. If you don't, your

intended meaning may not be clear.

Consider the unintentional meanings in the following:

The young girl was walking the dog in a short skirt.

The dog was chasing the boy with the spiked collar.

Infinitive

Consists of the present part of a verb plus

the word to.

Cannot stand alone as the verb in a

sentence.

Requires use of a comma for setting off

introductory infinitive phrases that are not

subjects.

Functions as a noun, adjective, or an

adverb.

Infinitive

• To sleep is my only desire.

• To sleep would be the subject

• I love to eat. To eat would be the DO

• Her desire to act is strong. To act is an adj.

Infinitive Examples

To learn a new software package requires

patience.

To feel confident using presentation

software, one should practice and time

the slide show.

I wanted to design a Website.

Split Infinitive

Star Trek's to boldly go where no one has gone

before. To boldly go is a split

infinitive. Boldly splits to go.

Examples:

to diligently read

to happily write

to scientifically illustrate