1. The Verbal
It looks like a verb;
it doesn’t act like a verb;
it’s a VERBAL!!
2. Participles!
• A participle is a verbal that is used as an
adjective and most often ends in -ing or -ed.
• However, since they function as adjectives,
participles modify nouns or pronouns.
• There are two types of participles: present
participles and past participles. Present
participles end in -ing. Past participles end
in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n, as in the words
asked, eaten, saved, dealt, and seen.
3. Participle- the adjective
• The crying baby had a wet diaper.
What word is crying modifying?
Answer:
Crying modifies the noun baby
4. Participles- modify…
• Smiling, she hugged the panting dog.
What words do smiling and panting modify?
Answer:
Smiling modifies she (subject)
Panting modifies dog (noun- DO)
5. You try again. Name all of the
parts of the sentence
• Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the
importance of exercise.
Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.
Answer:
Participle: Having
Participial Phrase: Having been a gymnast
Subject- Lynn
Verb- knew
Prepositional phrase- of exercise
6. Placement of a Participle
• In order to prevent confusion, a participial
phrase must be placed as close to the noun it
modifies as possible, and the noun must be
clearly stated.
Misplaced modifier:
Carrying a heavy pile of books, his foot caught on a step. *
.
Corrected:
Carrying a heavy pile of books, he caught his foot on a step.
7. Punctuation:
• When a participial phrase begins a sentence,
a comma should be placed after the phrase:
Dissect this sentence finding all parts: subject, verb,
participle, prepositional phrase, and dependent clause:
Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed.
Answer:
Arriving (at the store), I found that it was closed.
participle prepositional phrase verb dependent clause
subject
8. Points to Remember
• A participle is a verbal ending in -ing (present) or -ed, -en, -d,
-t, or -n (past) that functions as an adjective, modifying a
noun or pronoun.
• A participial phrase consists of a participle plus modifier(s),
object(s), and/or complement(s).
• Participles and participial phrases must be placed as close to
the nouns or pronouns they modify as possible, and those
nouns or pronouns must be clearly stated.
• A participial phrase is set off with commas when it:
• a) comes at the beginning of a sentence
• b) interrupts a sentence as a nonessential element
• c) comes at the end of a sentence and is separated from the
word it modifies.
9. Gerunds
A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and
functions as a noun.
However, since a gerund functions as a noun,
it occupies some positions in a sentence that
a noun ordinarily would, for example:
subject, direct object, subject complement,
and object of preposition.
10. Gerund as subject:
• Traveling might satisfy your desire for new
experiences.
Answer:
Traveling- Gerund
Might satisfy- verb
For new experiences- prepositional phrase
Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
11. Now you try:
• Finding a needle in a haystack would be
easier than what we're trying to do.
Answer:
Finding (gerund)
a needle (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
in a haystack (prepositional phrase as adverb)
Verb- would be easier
than what we're trying to do (essential dependent clause
Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than
what we're trying to do.
12. Gerund as direct object:
• They do not appreciate my singing.
Answer:
Subject- They
Verb- do not appreciate
D.O.- my singing
They do not appreciate my singing.
13. Now you try- Gerund as D.O.
• I hope that you appreciate my offering you
this opportunity.
Answer:
Subject- I
Verb- hope
Essential dependent clause- that you appreciate
Adjective- my
Gerund- offering
D.O.- this opportunity (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.
14. Gerund as object of
preposition:
• The police arrested him for speeding.
Answer:
Subject- police
Verb- arrested
D.O.- him
Prepositional phrase- for speeding
Gerund- speeding [object of the prep. (noun)]
The police arrested him for speeding.
15. Now you try- Object of the
Prepositional Phrase
• You might get in trouble for faking an illness to
avoid work. (malinger!)
Answers:
Subject- You
Verb- might get
Prepositional phrase- in trouble
Prepositional phrase- for faking
Infinitive- to avoid work (to avoid work infinitive phrase as adverb)
Gerund- faking (object of preposition)
D.O- an illness (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.
16. Points to Remember- Gerund
• A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that
is used as a noun.
• A gerund phrase consists of a gerund
plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or
complement(s).
• Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually
never require punctuation
17. Infinitives
• An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to
plus a verb (in its simplest "stem" form) and
functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. The
term verbal indicates that an infinitive, like the
other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and
therefore expresses action or a state of being.
However, the infinitive may function as a subject,
direct object, subject complement, adjective, or
adverb in a sentence. Although an infinitive is easy
to locate because of the to + verb form, deciding
what function it has in a sentence can sometimes be
confusing.
18. Can you tell what function the
infinitive takes?
To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was
required. Answer: Subject
Everyone wanted to go. Answer: Direct Object
He lacked the strength to resist. Answer: adjective
We must study to learn. Answer: adverb
19. Infinitive or Prepositional
Phrase?
• to fly, to draw, to become, to enter,
to stand, to catch, to belong
• to him, to the committee, to my house,
to the mountains, to us, to this address
20. The Finale!!
Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives
• What is the bold part of the sentence?
• Stay away from running water.
• The dog chased the fluttering moth.
• Borrowing money is usually a mistake.
• I nodded to show respect.
• After closing on her house, Tanya decided to
sell some of the furniture.
• Dancing is my favorite hobby.
