Download Verbals Lecture Notes

Gerund
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A verb + ing that is now a noun
Dance + ing = Dancing is fun.
In that sentence dancing is the subject
I enjoy eating. (eating is the direct object)
How are these gerunds used?
We appreciated your sending the new software
documentation.
Anthony enjoyed teaching software programs.
Using spreadsheet software simplifies financial
calculations.
Participle
A participle is a verbal that functions as an
adjective to modify a noun or pronoun.
Verb + d, ed, or ing that is now an adjective.
A participle requires a comma to set off an
introductory participle or participial phrase.
WALKING through the park, I saw a bear.
A present participle ends in ing.
Using a new keyboard, I improved my data entry
speed.
Participle
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A past participle ends in ed for regular
verbs.
Determined to learn the software, she
asked Lynn for help.
The man DRESSED in black is the robber.
Dangling Participles/Misplaced Modifiers.
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Participles must be used with care. They will
modify the closest noun. Consider the
following sentences:
The robber ran from the policeman, still
holding the money in his hands.
After being whipped fiercely, the cook boiled
the egg.
Flitting from flower to flower, the football
player watched the bee.
Dangling Participles
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Here's another example: Walking along the beach, the sun
rose majestically over the ocean. Now, that's a nice trick. This
sentence has the sun walking along the beach!
Here's a corrected version: Walking along the beach, we saw
the sun rise majestically over the ocean. Now the participial
phrase modifies "we," as it should.
Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car seemed to run
better.
Corrected version:
Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, Fred found he could get
much better gas mileage.
Misplaced Modifiers
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A modifier is a word or a phrase that describes
something else. You should place it as close as
possible to what it describes. If you don't, your
intended meaning may not be clear.
Consider the unintentional meanings in the following:
The young girl was walking the dog in a short skirt.
The dog was chasing the boy with the spiked collar.
Infinitive
Consists of the present part of a verb plus
the word to.
Cannot stand alone as the verb in a
sentence.
Requires use of a comma for setting off
introductory infinitive phrases that are not
subjects.
Functions as a noun, adjective, or an
adverb.
Infinitive
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To sleep is my only desire.
To sleep would be the subject
I love to eat. To eat would be the DO
Her desire to act is strong. To act is an adj.
Infinitive Examples
To learn a new software package requires
patience.
To feel confident using presentation
software, one should practice and time
the slide show.
I wanted to design a Website.
Split Infinitive
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Star Trek's to boldly go where no one has gone
before. To boldly go is a split
infinitive. Boldly splits to go.
Examples:
to diligently read
to happily write
to scientifically illustrate