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.
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.)
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.
SPOTTED is the verb for the subject CARMEN.
- Present participles end in -ing.
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.
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.
SPOTTED is the verb for the subject CARMEN.
- 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.
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:
The participle phrase modifies the pronoun I, so it is placed next to it.
Incorrect placement: I watched the sun rise through crimson clouds, standing on the roof of my apartment building at dawn.
Here the phrase is closest to clouds, making it seem as if the clouds are standing on the roof.
The participle phrase modifies thunder.
Incorrect Placement: Rumbling in the distance, I could hear thunder. The phrase appears to modify I.
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:
- I stood on the roof of my apartment building at dawn.
- I watched the sun rise through crimson clouds.
The participle phrase modifies the pronoun I, so it is placed next to it.
Incorrect placement: I watched the sun rise through crimson clouds, standing on the roof of my apartment building at dawn.
Here the phrase is closest to clouds, making it seem as if the clouds are standing on the roof.
- I could hear thunder.
- The thunder was rumbling in the distance.
The participle phrase modifies thunder.
Incorrect Placement: Rumbling in the distance, I could hear thunder. The phrase appears to modify I.
- 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.
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:
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:
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.
- A more disastrous activity for long-haired people is blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down.
- Wild food adventures require getting your hair cut to a short, safe length.
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 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.
- Bernard hates buttering toast with a fork.
- Buttering toast with a fork, Bernard vowed that he would finally wash the week's worth of dirty dishes piled in the sink.
- My dog's most annoying habit is hogging the middle of the bed.
- Last night I had to sleep on the couch because I found my dog Floyd hogging the middle of the bed.
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:
sentence.
Kelvin is taking the class.
What Is This Infinitive Phrase Doing?!Noun
- 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.
sentence.
- Lakesha hopes to win the approval of her mother by switching her major from fine arts to pre-med.
- 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.
- 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.
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)