VerbalsVerbalsG

erun

d

Ger

und

Par

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le

Par

ticip

le

Infin

itive

Infin

itive

Verbal Phrase = Verbal Phrase =

• A phrase that is centered around a verb form.

• This verb form is NOT used as a verb in the sentence

• It is used as a nounnoun, adjectiveadjective or adverbadverb.

There are 3 kinds of verbals or verbal phrases:

GERUNDGERUND PARITCIPLEPARITCIPLE ININFINIFINITIVETIVE

GerundGerund

- ing

NO

UN

What?What?

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

• …centers around a verb form ending in -ING

• …is always used as a noun

• …is never surrounded by commas (except for appositives)

• Caution! -ING verb forms can also be verbs or adjectives (These are NOT gerunds.)

• …can be used in each of the 6 noun positions

Not all Not all -ING -ING words are words are GerundsGerunds::

• morning

• evening

• something

• nothing

• anything

• everything

• She is driving to school today.

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

EXAMPLES:

• Swimming the mile is my best event.

• I like swimming the mile.

• My best event is swimming the mile.

• I gave swimming the mile a try.

• He lectured us about swimming the mile.

• My best event, swimming the mile, was canceled.

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

ANSWERS:

• Swimming the mile is my best event. (Subject)

• I like swimming the mile. (DO)

• My best event is swimming the mile. (PN)

• I gave swimming the mile a try. (IO)

• He lectured us about swimming the mile. (OP)

• My best event, swimming the mile, was canceled. (APP)

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

EXAMPLES:

• His sister was dancing in the show.

• I hate practicing the piano.

• I gave my mom’s cooking a perfect 10.

• Sitting by the pool is quite relaxing.

• Wishing upon a star, Sue imagined a better life.

• While I was walking on the beach, I found a sand dollar.

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

ANSWERS:

• His sister was dancing in the show. (not a gerund, verb phrase)

• I hate practicing the piano. (DO)

• I gave my mom’s cooking a perfect 10. (IO)

• Sitting by the pool is quite relaxing. (S)

• Wishing upon a star, Sue imagined a better life. (not a gerund, participial phrase)

• While I was walking on the beach, I found a sand dollar.(not a gerund, clauseclause)

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

EXAMPLES:

• Becoming a doctor takes years of serious study.

• Kino’s specialty is cooking mushrooms.

• The subtle squeaking of the door hinges told Mira that her sister was home.

• Carla decided on writing about famous women in history.

• Mr. Riley enjoys the crackling of a campfire on a winter’s evening.

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

ANSWERS:

• Becoming a doctor takes years of serious study. (S)

• Kino’s specialty is cooking mushrooms. (PN)

• The subtle squeaking of the door hinges told Mira that her sister was home. (S)

• Carla decided on writing about famous women in history. (OP)

• Mr. Riley enjoys the crackling of a campfire on a winter’s evening. (DO)

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

EXAMPLES:

• Traveling to new and interesting places is fun.

• The smiling child amused his parents.

• Give playing golf another chance.

• Pam is studying for her French exam.

• Holding onto the kite, Jeremy received a cut.

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrase

ANSWERS:

• Traveling to new and interesting places is fun. (S)

• The smiling child amused his parents. (not a gerund, participle)

• Give playing golf another chance. (IO)

• Pam is studying for her French exam. (not a gerund, verb phrase)

• Holding onto the kite, Jeremy received a cut. (not a gerund, participial phrase)

Gerund / Gerund PhraseGerund / Gerund Phrasepatternspatterns to look for… to look for…

Subject + verb …

Subject + linking verb + PN

Subject + action verb + DO

Subject + action verb (usu. give) + IO DO

Preposition + OP

S, Appositive , verb…(Other combinations are possible for this one.)

ParticipleParticiple -ing

-d

-ed

-n

-en

-nt

AD

JEC

TIV

E

What kind?What kind?

Which one?Which one?

Participles…Participles…

• are verb forms that act like adjectives.

• can end in –ing, -d, -ed, -n, -en, nt

• will come as close as they can to the noun they modify

• can come BEFORE or AFTER the noun it modifies

ParticiplesParticiples

Examples:

• The frowning clown fell down. (article/ adj./noun)

• The clown, frowning at the crowd, fell down.

• Frowning at the crowd, the clown fell down.

Participial Phrases…Participial Phrases…

• may fall at the beginning of the sentence.

• If so, it will be separated from the sentencewith a comma

Example:

• Bent by the wind, the tree finally fell over.

Find the participles:Find the participles:

• The fallen tree blocked the road.

• Mary had to replace the soiled carpet.

• Mike’s goal was hiking the Rockies.

• The running water eroded the soil.

• We finally got our own swimming pool.

• Eating jalapeno peppers can be painful.

Find the participles Find the participles (Answers)(Answers)

• The fallen tree blocked the road.

• Mary had to replace the soiled carpet.

• Mike’s goal was hiking the Rockies. (gerund)

• The running water eroded the soil.

• We finally got our own swimming pool.

• Eating jalapeno peppers can be painful. (gerund)

Find the participial phrases:Find the participial phrases:

• Running quickly, the puppy caught up with the family.

• Seeing my family made me feel safe.

• Bending in the wind, the tree finally fell.

• The wind, whipping through the valley, did extensive damage.

• I saw my uncle waiting for me.

Find the participial phrasesFind the participial phrases (Answers)(Answers)

• Running quickly, the puppy caught up with the family.

• Seeing my family made me feel safe. (gerund)

• Bending in the wind, the tree finally fell.

• The wind, whipping through the valley, did extensive damage.

• I saw my uncle waiting for me.

Find the participial phrases:Find the participial phrases:

• Granny’s goal, quilting a huge quilt, will have to wait until spring.

• Martha’s hobby is sewing for the family.

• Sitting by the dock, Bob felt lonely.

• The boy sitting by the bay was my cousin.

• Not watching his steps, the toddler fell down.

Find the participial phrasesFind the participial phrases(Answers)(Answers)

• Granny’s goal, quilting a huge quilt, will have to wait until spring. (gerund / appositive)

• Martha’s hobby is sewing for the family. (gerund)

• Sitting by the dock, Bob felt lonely.

• The boy sitting by the bay was my cousin.

• Not watching his steps, the toddler fell down.

Participle / Participial Phrase Participle / Participial Phrase patternspatterns to look for… to look for…

participial phrase , Subject + verb…

Subject, participial phrase , verb…

Subject + verb +DO participial phrase

PrepositionPreposition + OP participial phrase

ArticleArticle participle Noun

InInfinifinitivetive

to + verb

NO

UN

/ A

DJE

CTI

VE /

AD

VER

B

What? What? (NOUN)(NOUN)

Which one? Which one? (ADJ.)(ADJ.)

What kind? What kind? (ADJ.)(ADJ.)

Why? Why? (ADV.)(ADV.)

InInfinifinitive tive RULES:RULES:

• Center around TO + verb

• Verb is “naked” – No endings (-ing, -ed, etc.)

• Examples: to go, to sit, to talk, etc.

• Can be used as noun, adj. or adv.

• Caution! Caution! Do not confuse with prepositional phrasesprepositional phrases using “to”(to school, to me, to us, to them, to lunch, etc.)

Find the InInfinifinitivestives

• I wanted to go to the mall today.

• My mom went to bed early.

• Your cat ate too much food today.

• To sleep all day is unhealthy.

• I want to ask you a question.

Find the InInfinifinitive tive Phrases:

• I went to the pond to fish for bass.

• I have to go to the mall before supper.

• To make good grades, one must study.

• My goal is to make good grades.

• I sat with the team to give them my support.

• Don’t try to get out of here too fast.

InInfinifinitive tive Phrases used as NOUNSNOUNS:

• I want to get a car for my birthday.

• My goal is to get a car for my birthday.

• To get a car for my birthday would be wonderful.

• My goal, to get a car for my birthday, may never happen.

Which two noun positions are not used?

InInfinifinitive tive Phrases used as ADJECTIVESADJECTIVES:

• The movie to see is Avatar.

• I missed the road to take to the beach.

• The place to see moose is Canada.

• I need a place to keep my book bag.

Adjective infinitive phrases will come directly after a noun and modify it by answering “which?” or “what kind?.”

InInfinifinitive tive Phrases used as ADVERBSADVERBS:

• I went to the pond to fish.

• To get into Harvard, you must study.

• I am happy to be here.

• I am sad to see you go.

An infinitive phrase that comes first in a sentence MAY be an adverb, but it will have a comma after it. Adverb infinitive phrases usually answer “why?” or “how?.”

Some Some famousfamous In Infinifinitives tives :

• “To be or not to be, that is the question.”

• “To know me is to love me.”

• “You’ve got to live a little.”

• “I vant to drink your bloooooood.”

• “I wanna hold your hand.”

• “I’ve only just begun to fight.”

• “To boldly go where no man has gone before…” (split infinitive)

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