Grammar Beyond the Basics

The BASICS

The BASICS: Which parts of speech modify these? Noun Verb Adjective Adverb

What if I told you that one of these could become all of the others?

Prepare to meet the multi talented VERB! What if I told you that a verb could be used as a: Noun Adjective Adverb

And now, a word to the wise: In all things, it’s a GROWTH MINDSET that will get you where you want to go!

Don’t be fooled by an incognito VERB When it’s playing the part of a noun, adjective, or adverb, it goes by the name of….

The Verbal

And if that’s not confusing enough…

The VERBAL, has yet even more sub-identities depending on which part of speech it’s imitating.

Verbal #1: The Gerund When a verbal ends in –ing it’s a GERUND, functioning as a NOUN, as in: Swimming is my favorite thing. GERALD the GERUND says: “Taking photos is my #1 hobby!”

A Gerund Phrase… …is a gerund with modifiers (descriptors) and complements (words that are needed to complete the meaning of an expression). Can you find the gerund phrases in these two sentences? Sleeping until noon is the best part of summer! Lying on my left side with my arm on top of a pillow is my favorite way to fall asleep.

And the Gerund Phrases are: Sleeping until noon is the best part of summer! Gerund Phrase: Sleeping until noon Lying on my left side with my arm on top of a pillow is my favorite way to fall asleep. Gerund Phrase: Lying on my left side

Verbal #2: The Participle When a verbal is an ADJECTIVE, it’s a participle. Watch out! The present participle has the same ending as the GERUND, -ing. The past participle ends in –ed, unless it’s an irregular verb. Who brought that crying baby into the library? The ripped curtain made the room look shabby. The caught student had the audacity to act innocent. The PEPPY PARTICIPLE says: “The shopping crowd knows where to get the deals!”

The Participle Phrase… … consists of a participle plus it’s modifiers and complements. Can you find the participles in the examples below? Present Participle: Running wild, the dog terrified everyone in the park. Past Participle: The sautéed mushrooms were better than the raw ones. SPOT CHECK: What’s a modifier? What’s a complement?

And the Participle Phrases are… Running wild, the dog terrified everyone in the park. Present Participle: Running wild The sautéed mushrooms were better than the raw ones. Past Participle: sautéed mushrooms

Verbal #3: The Infinitive Introducing our most versatile (multi-talented) verbal yet, the INFINITIVE; it can be a NOUN, an ADJECTIVE, or an ADVERB. It also stands alone because rather than have a distinctive ending, it is a verb that is preceded by the word “to”. Infinitiva, the to-die-for diva, says: To shop is lovely, to buy is divine!

The Infinitive Phrase… … as you might suspect by now, consists of an infinitive plus its complements and modifiers. The ENTIRE PHRASE functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Let’s look at the Verbal Infinitives as various types of NOUNS: To go to the gym daily was her goal. Subject More than anything, she wanted to go to the gym everyday. Direct Object Her plan was to go to the gym was a good one. Predicate Noun

The Infinitive Phrase as… …an ADJECTIVE Her plan to go to the gym was a good strategy. (The verbal infinitive modifies plan) …an ADVERB To go to the gym daily, she will schedule time between work and dinner. (The verbal infinitive modifies will schedule; it tells why she will schedule time.)

Word to the Wise She is going to the gym. Prepositional Phrase Don’t be fooled by the dirty old prepositional phrase! She is going to the gym. Prepositional Phrase She wants to go to the gym. Infinitive Phrase

Congratulations; this concludes our introduction of VERBALS! The Verbal Congratulations; this concludes our introduction of VERBALS!