Download 1 VERBALS Meet the Gerund

Meet the Gerund
VERBALS
1
A VERBAL is any verb form that is used in a sentence not as a verb but as another part
of speech. Like verbs, verbals can be modified by an adverb or adverbial phrase. They
can also be followed by a complement. A verbal used with a modifier or a complement
is called a verbal phrase.
1. What do these sentences have in common?
Collecting tolls is the troll’s favorite thing.
Blowing down straw and stick houses is easy for the wolf.
Looking into the magic mirror is something the evil queen does daily.
Trying to get home was Odysseus’ ten year goal.
2. What do these sentences have in common?
The elf loved painting pictures laced with sunbeams.
Hercules labored long at completing his twelve tasks.
The frog’s favorite thing is submarining through still water.
Answer to questions 1 & 2______________________________________________________
A GERUND is a form of a verb that acts as a noun. Gerunds end in –ing.
USE OF GERUNDS IN SENTENCES
Subject
Rebuilding was a good idea.
Direct Object
Amy enjoys painting.
Predicate Noun (Subject complement)
Object of a Preposition
Her favorite activity is running.
Sarah never gets tired of reading.
A GERUND PHRASE is a gerund with modifiers or a complement, all acting together as a
noun. The chart below shows how gerunds are expanded to form gerund phrases.
USE OF GERUNDS IN SENTENCES
GERUND + OBJECT(S) AND/OR MODIFIER(S)
Gerund with Adjectives
Gerund with Direct Object
Gerund with Prepositional Phrase
Gerund with Adverb and Prepositional
Phrases
OVER
The loud, piercing ringing went on all afternoon.
Reading historical fiction has inspired many
playwrights.
Her favorite activity is running through the forest.
The teacher loved teaching passionately about
gerund phrases.
WRITING ACTIVITY:
A GERUND POEM
IN YOUR WRITER”S NOTEBOOK…
FIRST, think of a book you have read, and event you have attended, or something else that
has lots of people doing lots of things in the same place.
Example: fairy tales, a baseball game, a family gathering, and evening at the mall
Choose one place. Make a list of all the actions there. Describe those actions with gerund
phrases.
Example: baseball: throwing fastballs, running bases, sliding home, calling strikes, hawking
peanuts, watching fireworks, buying tickets, finding your seats, yelling at the umpire, seeing
your team win, going home happy
SECOND, begin with a statement like: Baseball is… When you want to introduce a new set of
actions, repeat the line.
THIRD, list gerund phrases after the opening statement.
Examples:
Baseball is…
buying tickets,
pushing through throngs of spectators,
searching for seats,
waving pennants,
munching peanuts.
Baseball is…
throwing fastballs,
belting triples,
running bases,
sliding home.
Baseball is…
yelling at the umpire after he missed a call,
leaping into the “wave,”
holding your breath as a home run barely clears the centerfield fence,
watching fireworks burst overhead like exploding stars,
pushing through the throng of baseball fans,
going home happy.
FOURTH, edit your poem in your writing notebook and be prepared to
share it. It must be a minimum of THREE stanzas and 15 lines.
Your poem is due on________________________________________.