Verbal Phrases

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Verbal Phrases
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What is a verbal phrase?

• A verbal phrase is a phrase that acts as a
  modifier to another part of the sentence.

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Why use verbal phrases?

• Verbal phrases are used to get rid of short,
  choppy sentences.
• When used in the beginning of a sentence, verbal
  phrases provide background.
• When added at the end, verbal phrases provide
  further information.

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Verbal phrases take on three forms

• Present Participle (-ing)
• playing, calling, laughing, mocking
• Past Participle (-ed or had)
• played, called, laughed, mocked
• Infinitive (to verb)
• to play, to call, to laugh, to mock

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When can you make a verbal phrase?

• When the sentences you want to combine have
  the same subjects and the subject is mentioned at
  the beginning of the sentence, followed by the
  verb.
• When this occurs, you can eliminate one of the
  subjects and turn the verb into a verbal phrase.

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Example

• Leanna sang sweetly. Leanna danced across the
  stage.
• Singing sweetly, Leanna danced across the stage.
• We took out one of the repeated subjects and
  turned the verb into a verbal phrase.

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Example

• Kevin was rushed to finish the dishes. Kevin
  broke his Dads favorite coffee mug.
• Rushed to finish the dishes, Kevin broke his
  Dads favorite coffee mug.

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example

• Brianna had to wash her clothes for work the next
  day. Brianna needed to get home to use the
  washing machine before her sister had the chance.
• To wash her clothes for work the next day,
  Brianna needed to get home to use the washing
  machine before her sister had the chance.

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When placed at the beginning of a sentence,
verbal phrases are used to provide background
information.

• Not feeling well a week after his surgery, Mark
  called his doctors office to schedule an
  appointment.
• Remembering his name, the secretary remembered
  what type of surgery Mark had.

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Make the first half of these sentences into
verbal phrases

• Glen washed his car. Glen did not hear the phone
  ring inside the house.
• Emily wanted to run from the monster. Emily
  pushed her little brother out of the way.
• George runs across the basketball court. George
  falls when he reached the sideline.
• Lisa recalls a time when she was extremely sad.
  Lisa tries to understand how depressed her friend
  felt.

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Make the first half of these sentences into
verbal phrases

1. Nicolas had to get to school on time. Nicolas
   chose to not eat breakfast.
2. Christopher forgot his keys. Christopher walked
   outside of his house to his car.
3. Ana wants some chips to go with her sandwhich.
   Ana decides to buy the healthy chips that are on
   sale.
4. Michael plays with his video games. Michael
   wishes his friends were there to play with him.

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Heres an example of verbal phrases at the end of
the sentence to provide further information

• The baby laughed cheerfully. The baby was playing
  with her new toy puppy.
• The baby laughed cheerfully, playing with her new
  toy puppy.

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Example

• Marcos bought his new girlfriend flowers. Marcos
  picked out the best flowers he could find.
• Marcos bought his new girlfriend flowers, picking
  out the best flowers he could find.

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Example

• Joaquina Spoke quietly. Joaquina read a poem she
  wrote about her grandmother.
• Joaquina Spoke quietly, reading a poem she wrote
  about her grandmother.

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Make the second sentences into verbal phrases

1. Krista opens the door. Krista drops her coffee.
2. Janice raced her sister to the swings. Janice
   lost an earring.
3. Baby Isabella cried all night. Baby Isabella
   wanted to be held.
4. Troy played guitar last night in the band. Troy
   wished he could have played the keyboard instead.

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Make the second sentences into verbal phrases

1. Krista opens the door, dropping her coffee.
2. Janice raced her sister to the swings, losing an
   earring.
3. Baby Isabella cried all night, wanting to be
   held.
4. Troy played guitar last night in the band,
   wishing he could have played the keyboard instead.

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Make the second sentences into verbal phrases

1. Nellie rode her horse down to the creek. Nellie
   thought about old memories from her childhood.
2. Robin lives in the city. Robin goes to school
   only three blocks away from her apartment.
3. Jared thought briefly. Jared answered Leas
   question too quickly.
4. Harry decided to make instant rice. Harry needed
   to finish dinner before his wife got home.

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Make the second sentences into verbal phrases

1. Nellie rode her horse down to the creek, thinking
   about old memories from her childhood.
2. Robin lives in the city, going school only three
   blocks away from her apartment.
3. Jared thought briefly, answering Leas question
   too quickly.
4. Harry decided to make instant rice, needing to
   finish dinner before his wife got home.

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Do these verbal phrases provide background or
give us further information?

1. Joshua did his homework at the kitchen table,
   angry he could not go outside and play.
2. Uninterested in the film, Sheila texted her
   boyfriend all throughout the final action scene.
3. Sleeping sweetly, the kitten moved as if she were
   chasing her favorite toy in her dream.
4. Already late to pick up her friend, Joanna
   decided to stop and get some coffee.

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Do these verbal phrases provide background or
give us further information?

1. Joshua did his homework at the kitchen table,
   angry he could not go outside and play. Further.
2. Uninterested in the film, Sheila texted her
   boyfriend all throughout the final action scene.
   Background.
3. Sleeping sweetly, the kitten moved as if she were
   chasing her favorite toy in her dream. Backround
4. Already late to pick up her friend, Joanna
   decided to stop and get some coffee. Backround

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Do these verbal phrases provide background or
give us further information?

1. Diana was mad her friend was late picking her up,
   angry at her friends tendency to be
   irresponsible.
2. Wanting everything in sight, Angel forgot she had
   no money in her wallet to buy anything at the
   store.
3. Running late for class, the girls accidently
   parked in a handicapped parking spot.
4. The girls studied for the English test, sitting
   on the grass under the tree.

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Do these verbal phrases provide background or
give us further information?

1. Diana was mad her friend was late picking her up,
   angry at her friends tendency to be
   irresponsible. Further
2. Wanting everything in sight, Angel forgot she had
   no money in her wallet to buy anything at the
   store. Background
3. Running late for class, the girls accidently
   parked in a handicapped parking spot. Background
4. The girls studied for the English test, sitting
   on the grass under the tree. Background

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Make this paragraph more creative using verbal
phrases

• Liza sings every Friday night at the
  local Jazz club. Liza is trying to become famous.
  This Friday she will sing two new songs she has
  been working on. She will wear a new dress. Liza
  is hoping that one day someone from a record
  label will hear her sing so she doesnt have to
  wait tables at the Jazz club anymore.

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Create your own verbal phrases!
Remember the uses of verbal phrases!

• Verbal phrases are used to get rid of short,
  choppy sentences.
• When used in the beginning of a sentence, verbal
  phrases provide background.
• When added at the end, verbal phrases provide
  further information.

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Resources

• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/
  
• Tutorial Center

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