INFINITIVES

Infinitives are verbals that are made up of the word to and a verb. Infinitives may function as
nouns, adjectives or adverbs.

When infinitives function as adjectives and adverbs, they are usually found preceding nouns
and pronouns in sentences, and when they function as nouns, they are used as subjects, direct
objects and objects of prepositions
.
AS NOUN
 To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required. (subject)
 Everyone wanted to go. (direct object)
 His ambition is to fly. (subject complement)
AS ADJECTIVE
 He lacked the strength to resist.
 Jason’s group was the last to arrive.
AS ADVERB
 We must study to learn.
 The students must pass the TAKS tests to graduate.

Infinitive Phrase consist an infinitive together with its modifiers and complements.

 I came to Manila to see a one of a kind exhibit.

Infinitives (to + verb) should not be confused with prepositional phrases (to + noun or pronoun).

Examples. I have homework to finish before class. (Infinitive)

She went to the library to finish her homework. (Prepositional phrase)

ACTIVITY

Encirle the infinitive and underline the infinitive phrase in each sentence below.

1. The place to go for information is the library.

2. We went to see a movie this past weekend.

3. Around test time, I definitely need to reduce stress.

4. If you start the project, you must be sure to finish.

5. I go to the local market to shop for our weekly needs.

PARTICIPLES

A participle is a verbal that is used as an adjective and most often ends in -ing or –ed
There are two types of participles: present participles and past participles.
 Present participles end in -ing.
1. The running water provided a picturesque view.
2. The clown was able to stop the raging bull from attacking the rider.
3. The crying child asked for his mother.
 Past participles end in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or –n.
1. Shaken, he walked away from the wrecked car.
2. Under a pile magazines, lay the forgotten letter.
3. The tired child fell asleep in the car.
4. I did not eat the burnt potatoes that my sister had cooked.

Participial Phrase consist a participle together with its modifiers and complements.
 The record, prepared by students was impressive.

ACTIVITY

Determine the participles in the sentences below.

1. Trying to write a poem is a humbling experience.

2. His amazing persistence in the case was a credit to the department.
3. I did not want to eat the burnt potatoes prepared by her.
4. Perhaps we will find a hidden treasure.
5. The baking bread smells delicious.

Underline the participial phrase in the sentences.

1. The car, damaged by the hailstorm, was taken to the body shop.
2. The woman wearing the blue sweater is Jack’s mother.
3. Surrounded by the smell of apples, I walked through the orchard.
4. Leaping into the air, the dancer thrilled the audience.
5. The athlete, sweating heavily, grabbed a towel and a bottle of water.
. NAME:______________________________GRADE&SECTION:________________________SCORE:__________
 VERBAL QUIZ #1

NAME:______________________________GRADE&SECTION:________________________SCORE:__________

Below are sentences using either an infinitive, a participle, or a gerund. Encircle them.
Read each sentence carefully. Write which verbal form appears in the sentence in the blank.

1. Running is my father’s favorite sport. _____________________

2. It’s important for him to run every day. _____________________
3. He has special running shoes. _____________________
4. He likes running in the rain. _____________________
5. My mother likes to hike. _____________________
6. Hiking is good for building strength. _____________________
7. There are many hiking trails near us. _____________________
8. She once had a frightening hike near a bear. _____________________
9. She never stopped hoping and praying for a new puppy. _____________________
10. I went to the library to finish my homework. _____________________
11. The ripened grain was ready to be harvested. _____________________
12. Voting is the responsibility of each citizen. _____________________
13. The cheerleaders led the excited spectators, jumping up and
down in their seats. _____________________
14. Leon lacked the courage to fight for his convictions. _____________________
15. I have a book to return to the library. _____________________
16. Dancing with the famous instructor, Dillon felt like a star. _____________________
17. John’s favorite outdoor activity is skiing. _____________________
18. Jennifer’s goal was to graduate from a university. _____________________
19. Janice, baking 10 cakes for the festival, accidentally
burned one of them. _____________________
20. Dumped animals in the streets often become a hazard. _____________________
 VERBAL QUIZ #2

NAME:_____________________________________Grade&Section:______________________Score:__________

Identify the type of verbal for the underlined word.

1. The thief arrested for the robbery shot at the security guard.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
2. They are sure the extra planning will make a difference in the end.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
3. Godzilla made a game of smashing all of the red cars parked near the lake.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
4. Delighted with the opportunity to learn, Christine took the internship in New York.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
5. The show offers everyone a chance to be a millionaire.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
6. Samuel decided that missing the lecture every day was hurting his grade.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
7. The swimmer, driven by the need to be the best in the world, made himself sick with anxiety.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
8. The marathon runner, pushed to the edge of endurance, collapsed at the finish line.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
9. Fred’s arguing every call is getting frustrating.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
10. The completed meal was so beautiful that the guests hesitated to eat it.
a. gerund b. participle c. infinitive
 VERBAL QUIZ #3

Name: _______________________________Grade & Section:_______________________Score:_____________

For each of the following sentences, decide if the word or phrase in bold is a participle, gerund,
or infinitive. Write a “P” over the word or phrase if it is a participle, a “G” if the word or phrase is
a gerund an “I” if the word or phrase is an infinitive.

___1. The children’s singing and laughing woke me up.

___2. Mallory likes to dance in the rain.
___3. There are many ways of breaking a heart.
___4. A broken heart will mend over time.
___ 5. George Burns once said, “Happiness is shaving a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in
another city.”
___6. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner.
___ 7. Woody Allen once said, “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want
to achieve it through not dying.”
___8. Woody Allen once said, “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to
achieve it through not dying.”
___9. Gore Vidal once said, “It is not enough to succeed. Other must fail.”
___10. Succeeding is not enough. Others must fail.

Underline the verbal phrases in the paragraph below and tell their kinds by writing them below the
phrases.

Tiffany, bored with the usual presents, asked for a pet for her birthday. Walking a dog of her
own had been her dream for a long time. A poodle puppy wagging its tail in a pet store caught
her eye. Hoping for this pet, Tiffany went to the store every day to look at the beloved pup. On
her birthday, Tiffany and her mom hurried to the store to buy the poodle. Tiffany named the
excited puppy Inglebert, which means “unusually intelligent.” Playing fetch and teaching
Inglebert new tricks now take up much of Tiffany’s time.
 VERBAL QUIZ #4

Name: _______________________________Grade & Section:_______________________Score:_____________

Write sentences using verbals.

GERUND/GERANDIAL PHRASE

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

PARTICIPLE/PARTICIPIAL PHRASE

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

INFINITIVE/INFINITIVE PHRASE

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.___________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.___________________________________________________________________________________________________