Common Core Grammar Review: Verbals, Ellipses, Dashes and Commas

Understanding Verbals * A verbal is a verb that is being used as another part of speech rather than a verb. *It can be the subject of a sentence, noun, or a modifier.

There are three types of Verbals Participles Gerunds Infinitives Examples The frightened cat scratched my eye. Running seems tiresome at first. Sometimes I like to swing and sometimes I like to slide at the park.

Verbals A verbal is a verb that is being used as another part of speech rather than a verb. Examples The frightened cat scratched my eye. Running seems tiresome at first. Sometimes I like to swing and sometimes I like to slide at the park. Participle Gerund Infinitive

Participles A participle is a verbal that acts as an adjective. The crying woman left the movie theater. The frustrated child ran away from home.

Participles A participle is a form of a verb that acts as an adjective. The crying woman left the movie theater. The frustrated child ran away from home.

Past or Present Participles Participles ending in an “ing” are Present Participles Participles ending in an “ed” are Past Participles

Identify the Participles in the following sentences Sometimes my gurgling stomach keeps me from concentrating While sleeping with the TV on, the tormented child dreamt of monsters. Screaming adults tend to be very impatient.

A gerund is a verbal that acts as a noun. Gerunds A gerund is a verbal that acts as a noun. -Running is great exercise -Most people enjoy eating.

A gerund is a verbal that acts as a noun. (always end in “ing”) Gerunds A gerund is a verbal that acts as a noun. (always end in “ing”) -Running is great exercise -Most people enjoy eating.

Identify the Gerunds in the following sentences Talking is a disruptive activity. My son loves playing with his toy dinosaur. The doctor gave studying all of his attention.

Infinitives An infinitive is a Verbal that appears with the word “to” and acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb 2 types of infinitives Present infinitive (only “to” + verb) Perfect infinitive (“to have” or “to have been” + past tense version of the verb)

Infinitive examples Present Perfect I like to debate. To play with matches is wrong. Perfect I would have liked to read the paper. To have been mentioned would have been enough.

Identify the verbals in the following sentences and identify them as a participle, a gerund or an infinitive. Meditating on positive ideas brings great physical health. The explorer struggled to find the remote colony. The heated pool is great for sore muscles

Ellipses (…) Use an ellipses to: Indicate a pause in dialogue or a break in a story. “I don’t know what to do…” she whined

Ellipses (…) Use an ellipses to: Indicate an omission in a quotation. Patrick Henry said, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?...I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Dash (-) Use a dash to indicate a break in thought. I talked to Chris-you know how he is- and he ignored me.

Comma Use a comma to: Separate an introductory element (subordinate clause) from the rest of the sentence When I got to school, I went to home room.

Comma Use a comma to: Separate nonessential elements from the rest of the sentence The ring, which is solid gold, has been in the family for years.

Comma Use a comma to: Set off interjections, such as yes and no Yes, I am going to the game.

Comma Use a comma to: Set off a tag question from the rest of the sentence It was Tim, wasn’t it? Indicate a direct address You see, Tito, we had to go.

Comma Use a comma to: Separate independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. She went to the store, but it was closed. Separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series We drove up the hill, around the corner, and into the driveway.

Comma Use a comma to: Set off geographical names He moved to Brooklyn, New York, after college.