Verbals and Verbal Phrases

• A verbal is a verb form that functions in a sentence as a

noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

• A verbal phrase is a verbal plus any complements and

modifiers.

• Verbals are participles, gerunds, and infinitives. Each of

these can be expanded into phrases.
 Participles and Participial Phrases
• A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective.

• Present participles always end in –ing (losing). Past participles often end in –ed
(winded), but some are irregularly formed (broken). Many commonly used adjectives
are actually participles.

Example:
The baseball team is on a losing streak.
[present participle as an adjective]

The winded runner stopped to rest.

[past participle as an adjective]

The fallen trees were remnants of a devastating storm.

[irregular past participle and present participle as
• When a participle is part of verb phrase, the participle is not functioning as
an adjective.

Examples:

PARTICIPLE AS AN ADJECTIVE The lost package was never recovered.

PARTICIPLE IN A VERB PHRASE The warehouse had lost my shipment.

• A participial phrase contains a participle plus any complements and
modifiers.

• Participial phrases can be placed in various positions in a sentence.

They always act as adjectives.

Examples:
Preparing for the lunar eclipse, we set our alarm clocks.
The full moon, suspended in the sky, was brilliant.
Badly needing sleep but delighted by the spectacle, we
maintained our vigil.
• A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed
by a comma.

• A past participle may be used with the present participle of the auxiliary
verb have or be.

Example:
Having read about the eclipse, we were anxious to see it.
We watched the moon being consumed by shadow.
 Practice:
Write the participles and participial phrases. Then write the
word or words each participle or participial phrase modifies.
1) The gathering clouds foretold a storm.
2) Born in Italy, Dino moved first to France and then to the United States.
3) Having learned German as a child, I could understand Florian.
4) These shoes, made of cork, are very comfortable.
5) Refreshed after a long night’s sleep, the golfer shot an amazing second round.
6) Newly clipped and groomed, the poodle hid under the bed in embarrassment.
7) The fallen apples littered the ground.
8) Dreaming of sun and surf, the three women booked passage on a cruise ship
to the tropics.
9) After the fire, nothing was left but some charred furniture.
10) Maria, being a realist, spoke openly about the problem.
 Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
• A gerund is a verb form that ends in –ing and is used in the same way a
noun is used.

Example:

Training is essential. [gerund as subject]

My aunt enjoys golfing. [gerund as direct object]
We should give communicating more attention. [gerund as indirect object]
Do we get credit for trying? [gerund as object of preposition]
His passion was sailing. [gerund as predicative nominative]
My favorite sports, boxing and wrestling, require strength and agility.
[gerunds as appositives]
Direct object: answers the question what? or whom? after an action verb.

Example: Estella sold her computer. [Estella sold what?]

Tamara watched the professor. [Tamara watched whom?]

Indirect object: answers the question to whom? for whom? to what? or

for what? after an action verb.

Example: The owner gave us a discount. [The owner gave a discount to whom?]

Appositive: is a noun or a pronoun that is placed to another noun or pronoun to

identify it or give additional information about it.

Example: My sister Jodi works with Dr. Martin, an award-winning pediatrician.

[The appositive phrase, identifies Dr. Martin]
• A gerund phrase contains a gerund plus any complements and modifiers.

Example: Climbing the mountain was a challenging activity.

I enjoy my grandma’s down-home cooking.

Although both a gerund and a present participle end in –ing, they function as different parts
of speech. A gerund is used as a noun, whereas a present participle is used as part of a verb
phrase or as an adjective.

Example:

PARTICIPLE IN A VERB PHRASE I am sewing this hem.

[present participle functioning as main verb]

PARTICIPLE AS AN ADJECTIVE Sewing a button on her shirt, Beth pricked her

finger. [present participle in participial phrase
modifying Beth]

GERUND Sewing is Beth’s favorite pastime.

 Practice:
Write the gerunds and gerunds phrases. Identify the way each is used by writing one
of these labels: subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition,
predicate nominative, appositive.

1) Seeing all her grandchildren gave Nana great pleasure.

2) The boys enjoy fishing.
3) Constant complaining is an annoyance.
4) The teacher gave his singing high praise.
5) We can save money by conserving energy.
6) After the rain, the child looked forward to his favorite pastime, jumping in mud puddles.
7) The band improved greatly by practicing every day.
8) My least favorite chore is mowing the lawn.
9) Greta loves reading the morning paper.
10) My parents’ regimen, exercising for an hour every morning, keeps them physically
fit.
 Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases
• An infinitive is a verb form that is usually preceded by the word to and is
used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
• When you use the word to before the base form of a verb, to is not a
preposition but part of the infinitive form of the verb.

Example:

To volunteer is rewarding. [infinitive as subject]

No one wants to leave. [infinitive as direct object]
Their decision was to merge. [infinitive as predicate nominative]
I felt the need to call. [infinitive as adjective]
Everyone was prepared to sacrifice. [infinitive as adverb]