Download Verbals

Verbals
(Or Verbs Misbehaving)
Infinitives
A verb form that usually
begins with “to”
Used as a noun, an
adjective, or an adverb
The infinitive with all its
modifiers and objects is the
infinitive phrase
Examples
 The choir tried to sing together.
(“to sing” is a noun and the object of
“tried”)
 Shelly needs someone to advise her.
(“to advise” is an adjective modifying
“someone”)
 Greg is afraid to talk to Jessica
(“to talk” is an adverb modifying
“afraid”)
Gerunds
Verbs used as nouns
The gerund with all its
modifiers and objects is the
gerund phrase
Examples
 Yelling at the umpire caused
Joanne’s laryngitis.
(“Yelling” is the subject of the verb
“caused”)
 I like singing.
(“singing” is the direct object of “like”)
Participles
 Verbs acting as adjectives
 May be in past (-ed) or present (-ing)
form
The paticiple with all its
modifiers and objects is the
participial phrase
Examples
 The glittering snow blinded him for a
minute.
(“glittering” is an adjective modifying
“snow”)