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. To better understand and identify verbals, always look for their form and function.
As noted, verbals do not act in conjunction with the subject as a verb. They may modify the subject, and in fact, they may be the subject, but they don't act as the verb for the subject.
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. To better understand and identify verbals, always look for their form and function.
- 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," (past tense) or "ing" (present tense).
- 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."
As noted, verbals do not act in conjunction with the subject as a verb. They may modify the subject, and in fact, they may be the subject, but they don't act as the verb for the subject.
Want a quick preview or review of verbal phrases? Watch this 5 minute video.
Verbals: 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.
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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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Verbal: Participial phrases
A participle is a verb form that acts as an adjective.
(running modifies water. What kind of water?)
The snarling dog scared us, and we left.
(snarling modifies dog. Which dog?)
(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.
verb, it cannot function as a verb. SPOTTED is the verb for the subject CARMEN.
FELL.
- Present participles end in -ing.
(running modifies water. What kind of water?)
The snarling dog scared us, and we left.
(snarling modifies dog. Which dog?)
- Past participles often end in -ed or -t, but they can also take other forms.
(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.
verb, it cannot function as a verb. 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.
FELL.
- Penned in by other runners, Steve was unable to make a break for the finish line.
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Watch a short video about the form and function or participle phrases.
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Want to see the form and function of participle phrases one more time?
Try this short video. |
Verbals: 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.
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.
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)