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Verbals
Words that LOOK like verbs, but
are not verbs.
Participles….
• …look like verbs, act as adjectives (ask:
What kind? How many? Which one? )
– Modify nouns/pronouns (like adjectives)
– Can be removed without changing the
meaning of the sentence
Types of Participles:
• Present participles end in –ing
• Past participles end in –d, –ed, or are
irregularly formed
• Examples:
– The mangled pair of sunglasses, bruised face,
broken arm, and bleeding knees meant Arthur
had taken another spill on his mountain bike.
Participial Phrases…
• …contains a participle and complements or
modifiers.
– Switching its tail, the panther paced back and forth.
• Switching is the participle, its tail is the complement
– Living within his budget, he never needs to borrow.
• Living is the participle, within his budget is an adverbial
prepositional phrase that modifies it
NOTE: participial phrases are often separated by commas!
Practice with Participles:
• JUST participles:
– Page 542, exercise 6
• Participial phrases:
– Page 545, exercise 9
– Page 546, review B
Gerunds…
• …look like verbs, act as nouns
• Function as subjects, direct objects (after
action verbs), predicate nominatives
(following linking verbs), or objects of
preposition (follow prepositions)
• Can be replaced with “it,” “that,” or “what”
and still make sense
• Always end in –ing
Examples of Gerunds
• Running is good exercise. (subject)
• Because of running, I am in good shape.
(object of preposition)
• I began running at the age of ten. (direct
object)
• My favorite sport is running. (predicate
nominative)
FINDING PARTICIPLES AND
GERUNDS
1. Find the real verb: picture the action in the sentence
2. What else looks like a verb? (These are the gerunds and
participles.)
3. Does it describe a noun? Can it be removed completely
without changing the meaning? (This is a participle.)
4. Is it a noun? Is it a subject, direct object, predicate
nominative, or object of a preposition? Can you replace
it with “it,” “this,” “that,” or “what” and still have the
sentence make sense? (This is a gerund.)
Practice with Gerunds
• Page 548, exercise 10
• Page 549, exercise 11
• Pages 549 and 550, review C
Infinitives…
• …are to + a verb
• Function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
• NOTE: Some infinitives do not have the
word “to” so you must watch the function!
• Be careful: “to” is also a preposition so look
for the verbal
Examples of Infinitives:
– I’ll help you [to] pack. (noun – direct object)
– The best way to survive Dr. Peterson's boring history
lectures is a sharp pencil stab in your thigh if you
catch yourself drifting off. (adj. mf.  “way” [which
one?])
– Kelvin, an aspiring comic book artist, is taking
Anatomy and Physiology this semester to understand
the interplay of muscle and bone in the human body.
(adv. mf.  “taking the class” [why?])
Practice with Infinitives:
• Page 552, exercise 13
• Page 553, exercise 14
• Pages 553 and 554 review D
Practice with ALL Verbals
• Pages 555 and 556 review E