Verbals

1. Verbals Bad, bad verbs Verbs that act like another part of speech Gerunds Participles Infinitives

2. Gerunds • 1. A geruNd is a verb ending in -ing that is used as a Noun. • 2. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s). • 3. Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.

3. Examples of Gerunds • Gerund as subject: Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences. Running is a great exercise.

4. Gerund as direct object: They do not appreciate my singing. Francis enjoys swimming.

5. Gerund as subject complement: My cat's favorite activity is sleeping. Tom’s best sport is running.

6. Gerund as object of preposition: The police arrested him for speeding.

7. Participles • 1. A pArticiple is a verbal ending in -ing (present) or -ed (past) that functions as an Adjective. • 2. A participial phrase consists of a participle plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s). • 3. Participles and participial phrases must be placed as close to the nouns or pronouns they modify as possible.

8. Examples of Participles • He ate a boiled egg for breakfast. • I like to see smiling faces. • A raging snowstorm struck the city. • Disturbed, she consulted her doctor about the symptoms. • The police shined the glaring light on the robber.

9. Be careful of dangling participles. • 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. • ｷCarrying a heavy pile of books, his foot caught on a step. • ｷCarrying a heavy pile of books, he caught his foot on a step.

10. More Dangling Participles • After rotting in the cellar for weeks, my brother brought out some shriveled potatoes. • After running five red lights, the police officer stopped the speeding motorist.After sitting in the freezer for three hours, my mother served the ice cream cake roll.Riding to the soccer field, a pothole nearly wrecked my bike.After being thoroughly beaten, the chef cooked the eggs.  • Rushing from the restaurant, the crystal sugar bowl fell out of her pocket.

11. After sitting in the freezer for three hours, my mother served the ice cream cake roll. • After being thoroughly beaten, the chef cooked the eggs.  • Rushing from the restaurant, the crystal sugar bowl fell out of her pocket.

12. Infinitives to + verb = infinitive • Important Note: Because an infinitive is not a verb, you cannot add s, es, ed, or ing to the end. Ever! • Infinitives can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

13. Infinitives as nouns • To study English is very difficult for me.

14. Infinitives as Adjectives • We have five questions to answer.

15. Infinitives used as adverbs • The man came to confess.

16. To split or not to split? • The general rule is that no word should separate the to of an infinitive from the simple form of the verb that follows. If a word does come between these two components, a split infinitive results. Look at the example that follows:

18. Your assignment: • Create 10 sentences using verbals. Each verbal must be represented. Underline and label verbals.