VERBALS AND VERBAL PHRASES

Gerund Phrases
A VERBAL is a unique word because it is a verb form
that is used as some other part of speech. A verbal can be used
alone, or it can be combined with modifiers or complements to
form a verbal phrase. The three kinds of verbals are participles,
gerunds, and infinitives.
Participles
A participle is a verb form that is used as an adjective.
Gerunds, like participles, can be combined with modifiers
and complements. Together they form a gerund phrase.
A gerund phrase is a gerund with its modifiers and
complements – all working together as a noun.
The following examples show some variations of the
gerund phrase.
Gerund with Traveling inexpensively is a necessity
an adverb for them.

The winning team shook hands with the defeated team. Gerund with a Brian surprised us by visiting for a week.
prepositional phrase
The blazing sun melted the frozen pond.
Gerund with a Painting landscapes is Rebecca’s
There are two kinds of participles. Present participles end complement specialty.
in –ing. Past participles often ended in –ed, but they can also
have irregular endings such as –n, -t, or –en.. NOTE: The possessive form of a noun or a pronoun is used
before a gerund and is considered part of the phrase.
Present Participles clinging, running, sinking, winding
Past Participles reserved, buried, worn, bent, broken Paul’s winning the tennis tournament was a surprise.
They encouraged his studying chemistry.
Since a participle is a verb form, it is sometimes mistaken
for the main verb of a sentence. There will always be a helping
verb with the participle if it is used as the main verb.
Infinitives
The infinitive is the third kind of verbal. It is different in
Participle Tim carefully repaired his torn jacket.
form from the other verbals because it consists of the words to
Verb His jacket was torn in several places.
+ base form of the verb. Also, it is used as more than one part
of speech. It may be used as a noun, an adjective , or an
Participial Phases adverb.
As a verb form, a participle can have modifiers and
complements. Together these words form a participial phrase. Noun To err is human. [subject]
A participial phrase is a participle with its modifiers and Everyone should learn to cook. [direct object]
complements – all working together as an adjective. To see is to believe. [predicate nominative]
My friend has a new hobby, to cook. [appositive]
Participle Purring softly, the cat seemed very
with an adverb contented. Adjective This year Celtics is the team to beat.
Participle with a The instructions, written in French, were Adverb Chimpanzees are quick to learn.
prepositional phrase impossible for me to read.
*Because an infinitive begin with the word to, it is
Participle with a Every runner winning a race will receive sometimes confused with a prepositional phrase.
complement a medal.
Infinitive This will be expensive to repair. [ends with a
NOTE: The present participles being and having are sometimes base form of the verb]
followed by a past participle.
Having read the story before, I just skimmed it. Prepositional You should take this to a repair shop.
phrase [ends with a noun or pronoun]
Gerunds
A gerund is another kind of verbal. Like a present
participle, a gerund ends in –ing. However, unlike a participle, Infinitive Phrases
a gerund is used as a noun, not an adjective. An infinitive phrase in an infinitive with its modifiers
and complements - all working together as a noun, an adjective
Gerund Talking is not allowed in the study hall. or an adverb.
(used as subject of the sentence)
Participle The talking parrot amused everyone. Infinitive with Everyone on the committee promises
(used as adjective to describe parrot) an adverb to work hard.
A gerund can be used in all the ways a noun can be used. Infinitive with a To win at chess requires
Subject Pointing is impolite. prepositional phrase concentration and patience.

Direct Object Pamela likes skating. Infinitive with a It’s fun to try different foods in new
Indirect Object She gave running one hour of her time each complement restaurants.
day.
Object of a A friend of mine went a whole day without
Preposition speaking. NOTE: To is sometimes omitted when an infinitive follows such
verbs as dare, feel, hear, help, let, make, need, see, or watch.
Predicate This year my favorite winter sport was
Nominative skiing. Will you help collect old newspapers? [to collect]
Appositive Tommy has a new major, engineering.