Download gerund phrase - Swindells

GERUND PHRASE
The gerund phrase includes the gerund and the object of the gerund or
any modifiers related to the gerund.
[In the following examples, the gerund is bold and the gerund phrase is
underlined.]

Flying above the lake at this time of night seems a little dangerous.
o

Bill decided that scrambling over the pile of debris was not safe.
o

INCREASING is the object of the preposition FOR. An object is a noun.
A form of the verb ending in ING and used as a noun is a gerund.
INCREASING is a gerund. HOURS is the object of the gerund.
Philip Morris continues its fight to prevent government from regulating
tobacco; nevertheless, the government is placing restrictions on
marketing cigarettes to youth.
o

DOING is the direct object of the verb AVOIDED. An object is a noun. A
form of the verb ending in ING and used as a noun is a gerund. DOING is
a gerund. HOMEWORK is the object of the gerund.
The student gathered signatures for increasing the hours of the library.
o

SCRAMBLING is the subject of the dependent clause. A subject is a
noun. A form of the verb ending in ING and used as a noun is a gerund.
SCRAMBLING is a gerund.
Ethan avoided doing his homework because the Ducks were playing the
Cougars.
o

FLYING is the subject of the sentence. A subject is a noun. A form of the
verb ending in ING and used as a noun is a gerund. FLYING is a gerund.
Both REGULATING and MARKETING are objects of prepositions
(FROM and ON).
The young man opposes marketing smoking cigarettes as if it were
glamorous.
o

MARKETING is the direct object of the verb OPPOSES. SMOKING is a
gerund and the object of the gerund MARKETING. CIGARETTES is the
object of the gerund SMOKING.
Andrew continues his crusade to prevent the university from limiting
free speech.
o
LIMITING is the object of the preposition FROM. SPEECH is the object
of the GERUND.
To begin studying infinitive phrases, please go to the next page.
INFINITIVE PHRASE
The infinitive phrase includes the infinitive and the object of the infinitive
or any modifiers related to the infinitive.
[In the following examples, the infinitive is bold and the infinitive phrase is
underlined.]

Even in New York, fans did not manage to buy the hype.
o

The seemingly simple decision to appoint a Democrat caused
controversy.
o

TO APPOINT is an adjective modifying DECISION. A DEMOCRAT is
the object of the infinitive.
The gap provides a way to give Democratic candidates an edge in close
elections
o

TO BUY is the direct object of the verb DID MANAGE. THE HYPE is
the object of the infinitive.
TO GIVE is an adjective modifying WAY. The object of the infinitive is
CANDIDATES.
The respondents believe their neighbors are willing to vote for a woman.
o
TO VOTE is an adverb modifying the predicate adjective WILLING. In
other words, it tells us the degree to which they are willing.

Two nonprofit organizations from opposite sides of the political
spectrum plan to release a report blasting 25 Army Corps of Engineers
water projects
o

The corps has been trying to recast itself in a more ecosensitive light.
o

TO RELEASE is the direct object of the verb PLAN. REPORT is the
object of the infinitive. FYI: BLASTING is a participle modifying
REPORT.
TO RECAST is the direct object of the verb HAS BEEN TRYING.
ITSELF ( a reflexive pronoun) is the object of the infinitive.
Now Congress has to decide whether it wants to continue to be part of
the problem, or if it wants to be part of the solution.
o
TO CONTINUE is the direct object of the verb WANTS. TO BE the
object of the infinitive TO CONTINUE. PART is the object of the
infinitive TO BE.
To begin studying appositives, please go to the next page.