Verbals and Verbal Phrases

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Verbals and Verbal Phrases

• ELA7C1fThe student analyzes the structure of a
  sentence (basic sentence parts).

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What is a VERBAL?

• A verb acting like another part of speech
• 3 types infinitives, gerunds, and participles

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Infinitives

• to a verb
• Can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb
  in a sentence
• Examples
• I like to read before I go to sleep.
• Most people like to watch comedies on TV.
• To succeed in school, you must work hard.

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Infinitives vs. Prepositional Phrases

• Be aware that the word TO does not always mean
  you have an infinitive.
• If TO is not followed by a verb, it is NOT an
  infinitive.
• I like to shop at the mall.
• Lets go to the mall.
• Which sentence contains an infinitive and which
  sentence contains a prepositional phrase? Why?

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Gerunds

• A verb acting like a noun
• Always ends in ing
• Can be used as subjects, direct objects and
  indirect objects, objects of prepositions, and
  predicate nominatives.
• In most cases, but not all, a gerund or gerund
  phrase can be replaced with the pronoun it and it
  still makes sense.

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Gerunds continued

• Examples
• Swimming is my favorite sport.
• Do you like riding horses?
• Many students like playing basketball in PE.
• Gerund or not?
• The dog, carrying its bone in its mouth, ran
  around the house.
• Carrying is NOT a gerund not used as a noun
• Smiling is an indication that a person is happy.
• Smiling is a gerund it is used as a noun
  (subject of the the sentence)

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Participles

• A verb acting like an adjective
• Often ends in ing or ed but occasionally ends
  in another way
• Examples
• Smiling, the teacher collected homework from her
  students.
• I like ice skating on frozen ponds.
• Barking dogs can be a nuisance.
• The burnt popcorn made the entire house smell.

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Participial Phrases

• A participial phrase is a participle and all of
  its objects or modifiers
• Examples
• Rounding third base, the runner charged toward
  home plate.
• The pitcher, losing control, has overthrown the
  ball.
• Especially pleased, the crowd cheered loudly.

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Hints

• Participles and participial phrases are almost
  always near the noun or pronoun they modify.
• Participles and participial phrases can usually
  be taken out of a sentence and the sentence will
  still make sense.
• The skilled catcher trapped the wild pitch in his
  mitt.
• The catcher trapped the wild pitch in his mitt.