VerbalsA verbal is a verb form that functions in a sentence as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

A verbal phrase is a verbal plus any complements or modifiers.

There are three kinds of verbals: participles, gerunds and infinitives.

Participles• A participle is a verb form that can

function as an adjective.

• A present participle is made up of the base form of the verb plus –ing: falling.

• A past participle is usually made up of the base form plus –ed: burned

Participles• Participles are often used as adjectives.

• No one would eat the burned toast.

• We were warned to watch out for falling rocks.

• The fallen tree blocked the winding road.

Participles• A participle may also be used as part of

the verb phrase. When a participle is part of the verb phrase, it is not acting as an adjective.

• Participle As Adjective:

• The growing child was curious.

• Participle In Verb Phrase:

• He was growing stronger.

Participles• A participle phrase contains a participle

and any complements and modifiers.

• We watched the best teams playing baseball.

• The badly defeated team accepted its fate.

• The victors, elated by the victory, shook hands with the losers.

Participles

• A participle phrase at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma.

• Throwing their hats into the air, the fans of the victorious team let out a great roar.

Dangling Participles

• A participle phrase that does not clearly and sensibly modify a word in the sentence is a dangling participle.

Dangling Participle

• Wrong: Sleeping during class, the teacher marked me absent.

• Right: Sleeping during class, I was marked absent by the teacher.

• Wrong: Walking down the street, Jim’s eyes showed constant surprise.

• Right: Walking down the street, Jim constantly showed surprise in his eyes.

Dangling Participles

• Bumping along in the jeep, the moon looked beautiful.

• Stepping on the brakes, the car skidded to the side of the road.

• While flying over Vicksburg, the national military park came into view.

• While trimming the rosebushes, a spider bit me.

Gerunds and Gerund Phrases

Gerund is a Verb form that ends in -ing and is used in the same way that a noun is used.

• Cooking is an enjoyable activity. (as Subject)

• My sister likes swimming. ( as D.O.)

• Tony gives baking his best effort. (as I.O.)

• How much money have you saved for shopping. (obj. of prep.)

Gerund Phrases contains a gerund plus any complements and modifiers.

•Reading is Stacey's favorite pastime.

•Hiking seemed like a good idea at the time.

Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases

Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases

• An infinitive is a verb form that is usually preceded by the word to and is used as a noun, adjective or an adverb.

To stand all day can be uncomfortable. (subject)

Infants first learn to creep. (D.O)