Download Verbal Phrases Notes

Verbal Phrases
Notes
phrase -
verbal phrase – phrase that is based on a verb but has a function other than a verb.
3 types of verbal phrases:
1) Infinitive phrase
2) Gerund phrase
3) Participle phrase
1. infinitive phrase
function
noun
=
_________ + ______________

Infinitives function as ______________, _________________, or ____________.

Be sure not to confuse an infinitive with a prepositional phrase beginning with “to.” An infinitive
must contain a ___________ and a prepositional phrase must contain a _____________ or
_______________.
o infinitives: to fly, to draw, to become, to enter, to catch, to belong, to pass
o prepositional phrases: to him, to my house, to the mountains, to this address

An infinitive phrase needs a _______________ if used as an adverb at the beginning of a sentence
examples
location
To wait seemed foolish when action was
required.
before the verb
direct object
Everyone wanted to go.
after an action verb
subject complement
His ambition is to fly.
after a state of being verb
adjective
He lacked the strength to resist.
(modifying a noun or pronoun)
adverb
We must study to learn.
(modifying a verb)
as:
subject
Notes based on handouts from The Writing Lab and The OWL at Purdue. Please visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/627 for more details or
examples.
Verbal Phrases
Notes
2.
gerund phrase
function
noun
=
___________________ + ________________________
Gerunds function as _____________.

A gerund phrase can be replaced with __________.

A gerund virtually never requires any ________________.
examples
location
Traveling might satisfy your desire for
new experiences.
They do not appreciate my singing.
My cat’s favorite activity is sleeping.
The police arrested him for speeding.
before the verb
as:
subject
direct object
subject complement
object of preposition
3.

participial phrase =
after an action verb
after a state of being verb
after a preposition
_______________________+ ______________________
function
adjective

Participles function as __________________. This means that
participles modify __________________ and ______________.

A participle phrase can NOT be replaced with __________.

Participial phrases are set off with commas when:
o comes ___________________________ of a sentence
o interrupts as sentence as a ________________________
o comes at the ________ of a sentence and is separated from the
word it modifies
example
present participle
past participle
The crying baby had a wet diaper.
Smiling, she hugged the panting dog.
Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed.
Shaken, he walked away from the wrecked car.
The church, destroyed by a fire, was never rebuilt.
Notes based on handouts from The Writing Lab and The OWL at Purdue. Please visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/627 for more details or
examples.