Verbal Phrase - Participle, Gerund, Infinitive
A verbal is the form of a verb used as a noun, adjective or adverb.
Identifying verbals can be somewhat tricky. While verbals are forms of verbs, they are NOT the action associated with the subject. In other words, they are not verbs.
Identifying verbals can be somewhat tricky. While verbals are forms of verbs, they are NOT the action associated with the subject. In other words, they are not verbs.
- Gerunds are forms of the verb that function as nouns. They always end in "ing."
- Participles are forms of the verb that function as adjectives. They can end in "ed," "en," or "ing."
- Infinitives are forms of the verb that may acts as adjectives, adverbs or nouns. They include "to" plus the base form of the verb, as in "to run."
Participles and Participle Phrases
A participle is a verb form that acts as an adjective.
Examples: The sound of running water told me the pipe had burst.
(running modifies water.)
The snarling dog scared us, and we left.
(snarling modifies dog.)
Examples: A watched pot never boils.
(watched modifies pot.)
Broken glass covered the floor.
(broken modifies glass)
A participial phrase includes the participle and any words modifying or related to the participle.
In the following examples, the participle is bold.
- Present participles end in -ing.
Examples: The sound of running water told me the pipe had burst.
(running modifies water.)
The snarling dog scared us, and we left.
(snarling modifies dog.)
- Past participles often end in -ed or -t, but they can also take other forms.
Examples: A watched pot never boils.
(watched modifies pot.)
Broken glass covered the floor.
(broken modifies glass)
A participial phrase includes the participle and any words modifying or related to the participle.
In the following examples, the participle is bold.
- The car sliding out of control toward building will likely hit the window.
- Cameron spotted his brother throwing rocks at the passing cars.
- The astronaut chosen to ride the space shuttle to Mars is afraid of heights.
- Running down the street, Alicia tripped and fell.
- Penned in by other runners, Steve was unable to make a break for the finish line.
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Diagramming Participle Phrases
Participles are formed from verbs and act as adjectives. Participal phrases consist of a participle and the participle's complements and modifiers.
Participle phrases act as adjectives.
Babies crying in the night bother me.
Burned on each side, the toast was inedible.
Diagram the participle on a curved, slanted line below the word that it modifies. Diagram its complements and modifiers just as you normally would.
Participle phrases act as adjectives.
Babies crying in the night bother me.
Burned on each side, the toast was inedible.
Diagram the participle on a curved, slanted line below the word that it modifies. Diagram its complements and modifiers just as you normally would.
Combining and Expanding Sentences with Participle Phrases
A participle is a verb form used as an adjective to modify nouns and pronouns. Participles can add vigor to our writing as they add information to our sentences.
However, because the participle phrases function as adjectives, it is important that the phrase be placed correctly so that the phrase modifies the intended noun.
Combining Sentences with Participle Phrases
Here are some examples:
Sample combination: Standing on the roof of my apartment building at dawn, I watched the sun rise through crimson clouds.
Incorrect Placement: Rumbling in the distance, I could hear thunder.
[ I am rumbling]
Expanding Sentences with Participle Phrases
Solution: I watched the sun, blazing red and orange, rise over the ridge.
Solution: The first baseman, distracted by the ostrich on the field, bobbled the line drive.
However, because the participle phrases function as adjectives, it is important that the phrase be placed correctly so that the phrase modifies the intended noun.
Combining Sentences with Participle Phrases
Here are some examples:
Sample combination: Standing on the roof of my apartment building at dawn, I watched the sun rise through crimson clouds.
- I stood on the roof of my apartment building at dawn.
- I watched the sun rise through crimson clouds.
- I could hear thunder.
- The thunder was rumbling in the distance.
Incorrect Placement: Rumbling in the distance, I could hear thunder.
[ I am rumbling]
- Professor Legree repeated his favorite joke.
- He was encouraged by the polite applause of the audience.
- The children gazed at the monkeys.
- The monkeys are hanging by their tails from the branches.
- The monkeys stared back at the children.
- The monkeys are hanging by their tails from the branches.
Expanding Sentences with Participle Phrases
- I watched the sun rise over the ridge.
Solution: I watched the sun, blazing red and orange, rise over the ridge.
- The first baseman bobbled the line drive.
Solution: The first baseman, distracted by the ostrich on the field, bobbled the line drive.
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Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
A gerund phrase will begin with a gerund, an - ing form of a verb, and will include other modifiers and/or objects.
Gerund phrases always function as nouns, so they will be subjects, subject complements, direct objects or the object of a preposition in the sentence.
Consider these examples:
Eating ice cream on a windy day = subject of the verb can be.
Blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down = subject complement of the verb is.
Getting your hair cut to a short, safe length = direct object of the verb require.
Don't mistake a gerund phrase for a present participle phrase.Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an -ing form of a verb . The difference is that a gerund phrase will always function as a noun while a present participle phrase describes another word in the sentence. Check out these examples:
Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine = gerund phrase, the subject of the verb will result.
Jamming too much clothing into the washing machine = present participle phrase describing Aamir.
Buttering toast with a fork = gerund phrase, the direct object of the verb hates.
Buttering toast with a fork = present participle phrase describing Bernard.
Hogging the middle of the bed = gerund phrase, the subject complement of the linking verb is.
Hogging the middle of the bed = present participle phrase describing Floyd.
Gerund phrases always function as nouns, so they will be subjects, subject complements, direct objects or the object of a preposition in the sentence.
Consider these examples:
- Eating ice cream on a windy day can be a messy experience if you have long, untamed hair.
Eating ice cream on a windy day = subject of the verb can be.
- A more disastrous activity for long-haired people is blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down.
Blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down = subject complement of the verb is.
- Wild food adventures require getting your hair cut to a short, safe length.
Getting your hair cut to a short, safe length = direct object of the verb require.
Don't mistake a gerund phrase for a present participle phrase.Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an -ing form of a verb . The difference is that a gerund phrase will always function as a noun while a present participle phrase describes another word in the sentence. Check out these examples:
- Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine will result in disaster.
Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine = gerund phrase, the subject of the verb will result.
- Jamming too much clothing into the washing machine, Aamir saved $1.25 but had to tolerate the curious stares of other laundry patrons as his machine bucked and rumbled with the heavy load.
Jamming too much clothing into the washing machine = present participle phrase describing Aamir.
- Bernard hates buttering toast with a fork.
Buttering toast with a fork = gerund phrase, the direct object of the verb hates.
- Buttering toast with a fork, Bernard vowed that he would finally wash the week's worth of dirty dishes piled in the sink.
Buttering toast with a fork = present participle phrase describing Bernard.
- My dog's most annoying habit is hogging the middle of the bed.
Hogging the middle of the bed = gerund phrase, the subject complement of the linking verb is.
- Last night I had to sleep on the couch because I found my dog Floyd hogging the middle of the bed.
Hogging the middle of the bed = present participle phrase describing Floyd.
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Combining Sentences with Gerund Phrases
A gerund, a verb form ending in -ing, is used as a noun. A gerund phrase,which includes the gerund and its modifiers and complements, is also used as a noun. A gerund or gerund phrase takes the place of a noun in a sentence.
Subject: Eating a spaghetti dinner can be a messy experience.
Indirect Object: Why don't you give making your own pasta a try?
Direct Object: She loves using her ravioli machine.
Subject Complement: Her new hobby is making gluten-free pastas.
Object of a Preposition: Tell me about developing your sauce recipe.
A gerund phrase can turn two short, choppy sentences into a smoothly worded statement.
Original: Paul treats his friends to homemade pasta. He hones his cooking skills.
Combined: Paul hones his cooking skills by treating his friends to homemade pasta. [object of preposition]
Combined: Treating his friends to homemade pasta is a way for Paul to hone his cooking skills. [subject]
Original: They read aloud every evening. This practice is their favorite family custom.
Combined: Reading aloud every evening is their favorite family custom. [subject]
Combined: Their favorite family custom is reading aloud every evening. [subject complement]
Original: We visited four European cities in six days. It was too much for us.
Combined: Visiting four European cities in six days was too much for us. [subject]
When you use a gerund phrase to combine sentences, you will delete or change some words. Carefully read your revision to be sure that the ideas make sense and that punctuation is correct.
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Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases
Recognize an infinitive phrase when you see one.An infinitive phrase will begin with an infinitive [to + simple form of the verb]. It will include objects and/or modifiers. Here are some examples:
Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Look at these examples:
To finish her shift without spilling another pizza into a customer's lap functions as a noun because it is the subject of the
sentence.
To win the approval of her mother functions as a noun because it is the direct object for the verb hopes.
To survive Dr. Peterson's boring history lectures functions as an adjective because it modifies way.
To understand the interplay of muscle and bone in the human body functions as an adverb because it explains why
Kelvin is taking the class.
- To smash a spider
- To kick the ball past the dazed goalie
- To lick the grease from his shiny fingers despite the disapproving glances of his girlfriend Gloria
Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Look at these examples:
- To finish her shift without spilling another pizza into a customer's lap is Michelle's only goal tonight.
To finish her shift without spilling another pizza into a customer's lap functions as a noun because it is the subject of the
sentence.
- Lakesha hopes to win the approval of her mother by switching her major from fine arts to pre-med.
To win the approval of her mother functions as a noun because it is the direct object for the verb hopes.
- The best way to survive Dr. Peterson's boring history lectures is a sharp pencil to stab in your thigh if you catch yourself drifting off.
To survive Dr. Peterson's boring history lectures functions as an adjective because it modifies way.
- Kelvin, an aspiring comic book artist, is taking Anatomy and Physiology this semester to understand the interplay of muscle and bone in the human body.
To understand the interplay of muscle and bone in the human body functions as an adverb because it explains why
Kelvin is taking the class.
What Is This Infinitive Phrase Doing?!
Noun
- Is it what the sentence is about? Does it begin the sentence and is not followed by a comma? (subject) -
- Does it answer “what” after the verb? (direct object)
- Does it follow a linking verb (is, are, was, were) not a verb phrase (is trying, are going) and rename or identify the subject? (subject complement)
- Does it answer the question “which one” or “what kind” in relation to a noun?
- Does it answer the question “why” or “how” in relation to a verb?
- Does it answer the question “why” or “how” in relation to an adjective? (usually the adjective is a subject complement)
3-Level Sentence Analysis | |
File Size: | 90 kb |
File Type: | flipchart |
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Combining Sentence with Infinitive Phrases
Infinitives and infinitive phrases are so versatile. You can use them as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. When you know how to use infinitives and infinitive phrases, you have another easy way to combine sentences.
An infinitive is a verb fonn, usually preceded by to.
Noun: To explain may be impossible.
Adjective: The place to visit is Ireland.
Adverb: To transmit, push the green button.
An infinitive phrase includes the infinitive and its modifiers and complements.
Noun: Weren't you asked to sing the anthem?
Adjective: Isaac is the player to watch next year.
Adverb: David bowed to show humility.
Because infinitive phrases can be used as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, they are often the best ways of combining sentences.
Infinitive phrases answer many questions--who, what, where, when, how, or why
Original: You can make thicker brownies. Use less milk.
Combined: To make thicker brownies use less milk. [subject]
Original: As a musician, I had one hope. The hope was that I would play the tuba better than anyone.
Combined: As a musician, my hope was to play the tuba better than anyone. [subject complement]
Original: Do good work. You must educate yourself.
Combined: To do good work, you must educate yourself. [adverb]
An infinitive is a verb fonn, usually preceded by to.
Noun: To explain may be impossible.
Adjective: The place to visit is Ireland.
Adverb: To transmit, push the green button.
An infinitive phrase includes the infinitive and its modifiers and complements.
Noun: Weren't you asked to sing the anthem?
Adjective: Isaac is the player to watch next year.
Adverb: David bowed to show humility.
Because infinitive phrases can be used as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, they are often the best ways of combining sentences.
Infinitive phrases answer many questions--who, what, where, when, how, or why
Original: You can make thicker brownies. Use less milk.
Combined: To make thicker brownies use less milk. [subject]
Original: As a musician, I had one hope. The hope was that I would play the tuba better than anyone.
Combined: As a musician, my hope was to play the tuba better than anyone. [subject complement]
Original: Do good work. You must educate yourself.
Combined: To do good work, you must educate yourself. [adverb]
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Verbal Test
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