Participial & Gerund Phrases

English I PreAP

Participles & Participial PhrasesO A participle is a verb “functioning” like an adjective

O A participial phrase begins with a participle and the words that follow

O Present participles end in “-ing”O Past participles end in “-ed”

Examples: O The crying baby had a wet diaper. (crying = participle)

O Sitting up in bed, the man ate his breakfast. (sitting up in bed = participial phrase)

O Her hair, braided and wrapped around her head, made a crown. (braided and wrapped around her head = participial phrase)

ExampleOriginal Sentence:Sarah was blinded by the light when she walked into the concert hall. (Here the verb is functioning like a verb)

Sentence with a participle:The blinding light blocked Sarah’s vision in the concert hall. (Here the verb is functioning like an adjective)

Sentence with a participial phrase:Blinded by the light, Sarah walked into the concert hall. (Here the verb is functioning like an adjective as a phrase)

Apply It!Using a participial phrase, describe what else could have happened in each sentence below. You can add it to the beginning of the sentence, in the middle, or the end!

O We just saw Amber.

O The captain walked across the deck.

O The president smiled and waved at the crowd.

Helpful HintsO Remember that you can add a

participial phrase to the beginning of a sentence, the middle, or the end

O It must be attached to a clause (sentence)

O Look for the “-ing” or “-ed” verb (participle) that is functioning like an adjective!!

Gerunds & Gerund Phrases

O A gerund is a verb ending in –ing and functions as a noun

O A gerund phrase begins with a gerund and the words that follow

Examples: O Running is a good way to stay in shape. (running =

gerund)

O Running up stairs is a good way to stay in shape. (running up stairs = gerund phrase)

O In the summer, my brother enjoys working as a lifeguard. (working as a lifeguard = gerund phrase)

ExampleOriginal Sentence:Mr. Smith jogs to work almost every day. (Here the verb is functioning like a verb)Sentence with a gerund:Mr. Smith enjoys jogging almost every day. (Here the verb is functioning like a noun)Sentence with a gerund phrase:Mr. Smith enjoys jogging to work almost every day. (Here the verb is functioning like a noun in a phrase)

Apply It!Use these gerunds in a sentence:

O writingO travelingO sleeping

Helpful HintsO A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that

is used as a noun.O A gerund phrase consists of a gerund

plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s)

O Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation

More ResourcesPARTICIPLES &

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

GERUNDS & GERUND PHRASES

O Participles & Participial Phrases on OWL at Purdue

O Gerunds and Gerund Phrases on OWL at Purdue