Download Verbals

Verbals
Verbals are words that look like
verbs, but act like something else
(nouns, adjectives, or adverbs)
Three Types of Verbals
Gerunds
Participles
Infinitives
Verbal #1: Gerunds
Gerunds are words that look like verbs but
act like NOUNS and end in ING.
How do they function?
Subject: Reading is fun!
Predicate Noun (Nominative): My favorite
hobby is reading. 
Direct Object: I love reading!
Indirect Object: I gave reading a try.
Object of the Preposition: I am talking about
reading.
NOTE:
An –ing word must be preceded by a
helping verb in order to be a verb
EXAMPLE:
The freshmen taking the test.
The freshmen have been taking the test.
NOTE:
A noun that follows a gerund and answers
the question who or what is the OBJECT
OF THE GERUND!
He made a complaint by writing a letter to
the president.
Writing a what?
A letter!! (OG)
Try it out!
1. Hiking is an excellent way to stay in good
shape.
2. I love stomping in puddles.
3. My goal is graduating from high school
and attending college.
4. I gave swimming my best effort.
5. I was thinking about traveling over the
summer.
Using Gerunds in Your Writing
Use gerunds to emphasize what has
occurred rather than who is acting
EXAMPLE:
I like softball. It is a lot of fun. I have fun
with my friends on the team.
Playing softball is fun. My teammates
have become some of my good friends.
Gerund phrases
Gerunds can be attached to prepositional
phrases or other words to form phrases.
Reading a book is food for the brain.
Climbing a tree can be fun but dangerous.
Running through the mall might get you
kicked out.
Singing in the shower is sometimes a very
bad habit.
Write your own
Gerund phrase as a subject
Gerund phrase as a predicate nominative
Gerund phrase as a direct object
Participles
and
participial phrases
Participles are verbals
Participles look like verbs, but act
like ADJECTIVES
Present and Past Participles
 End in ING
Frightening
Entertaining
 Usually end in ED
Frightened
Entertained
 Sometimes end in T
or EN
Burst
Written
Don't mistake a gerund phrase for
a present participle phrase.
 Gerund and present
participle phrases are
easy to confuse
because they both
begin with
an ing word.
 The difference is that
a gerund phrase will
always function as a
noun while a present
participle phrase
describes another
word in the sentence.
Examples
 Jamming too much
clothing into a
washing
machine will result in
disaster.
 Jamming too much
clothing into a
washing machine =
gerund phrase, the
subject of the
verb will result.
Examples
 Jamming too much
clothing into the
washing machine,
Aamir saved $1.25.
 Jamming too much
clothing into the
washing machine =
present participle
phrase
describing Aamir.
Examples
 Present participle
 Past participle
 Limping, the hiker
favored his aching
ankle.
 Confused, Nan
returned to her
interrupted work.
 Limping describes
hiker
 Aching describes
ankle
 Confused describes
Nan
 Interrupted describes
work
More examples
Jessica’s shining eyes betrayed her
excitement.
The shattered window needs replacement.
The beating heart fascinated Billy.
The lost boys screamed in the night.
The policeman found the stolen car.
Verb or participle?
 The dog is snarling at
the plumber.
 The snarling dog
attacked the plumber.
 The singers delighted
their audience.
 Delighted, the
audience applauded.
Verb, participle or gerund?
Do we have any wrapping paper left?
The detective was wrapping up the case.
Wrapping the gifts took longer than
expected.
Try it out!
Think of a verb which can be used as a
verb, a participle, and a gerund.
Write three sentences:
Verb
Participle
Gerund
Infinitives
another verbal!
To + a Verb
Preposition or Infinitive?
1. At the outdoor market, my grandmother
likes to bargain.
2. Would you try to explain?
3. Give an explanation to Glen.
4. To believe took considerable faith.
5. Lindsey wrote letters to friends.
Infinitive or preposition?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
After working so hard, he wanted to rest.
Our trip to China was filled with surprises.
Baxter’s gift to me was too extravagant.
When do you plan to graduate?
On Vicky’s way to town, she had a flat
tire.
Infinitives
Infinitives can function as nouns,
adjectives, or adverbs
They are the only thing in the English
language that can
An infinitive can NEVER be the verb of the
sentence
Infinitives as nouns
An infinitive as a noun can function as
The SUBJECT
The P.N.
The D.O.
The O.P.
Appositive
To read is fun!
My ambition is to win!
I love to read!
The parachuter was about to
jump.
You have only one choice,
to go.
Infinitives as modifiers
Infinitive as adjective:
 Adjectives answer which one or what kind
The children showed a willingness to cooperate.
What kind of willingness?
To cooperate modifies willingness
The time to start is now.
Which time?
To start modifies time
A little practice
1. That is the way to live.
2. Derek has the ability to succeed in
business.
3. The man to hire is that applicant in the
dark glasses.
4. My desire to travel has taken me all over
the world.
5. These are the songs to sing at the
concert.
Infinitive as adverb:
Adverbs answer WHY, WHEN, WHERE,
HOW, TO WHAT EXTENT
They fought to win.
Why did they fight?
To win modifies fought.
Some people are unable to adjust.
How are they unable?
To adjust modifies unable.
Infinitive Phrases
Infinitives can be expanded into phrases
by adding
Adverbs: Jeff’s entire family likes to rise early.
Adverb phrases: To skate on the ice without
falling was not too easy for him.
Direct objects: He hated to discuss emotions.
Indirect objects and direct objects: They
promised to show us their slides.
Subject and Complement: I would like her to
determine her own goals.
Try it out!
Write one sentence for each function:
Infinitive as subject
Infinitive as direct object
Infinitive as predicate nominative
Infinitive as object of the prep
Infinitive as an appositive