Verbals and Verbal Phrases ELAGSE8L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Explain the functions of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences.

What is a VERBAL?  A verb acting like another part of speech  3 types: infinitives, gerunds, and participles

Infinitives  to + a verb  Can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence  Examples: I like to read before I go to sleep. Most people like to watch comedies on TV. To succeed in school, you must work hard.

Infinitives vs. Prepositional Phrases  Be aware that the word TO does not always mean you have an infinitive.  If TO is not followed by a verb, it is NOT an infinitive. I like to shop at the mall. Let’s go to the mall.  Which sentence contains an infinitive and which sentence contains a prepositional phrase? Why?

Gerunds  A verb acting like a noun  Always ends in –ing  Can be used as subjects, direct objects and indirect objects, objects of prepositions, and predicate nominatives.

Gerunds continued  Examples Swimming is my favorite sport. Do you like riding horses? Many students like playing basketball in PE.  Gerund or not? The dog, carrying its bone in its mouth, ran around the house.  Carrying is NOT a gerund; not used as a noun Smiling is an indication that a person is happy.  Smiling is a gerund; it is used as a noun (subject of the the sentence)

Gerunds as Subjects  A gerund (or gerund phrase) can be the subject of a sentence. Gardening is my favorite leisure activity.  The gerund Gardening is the subject of the sentence. Decorating our house has been a family tradition at Christmas for years.  Decorating our house is the gerund phrase that is the subject of the sentence. Roaring filled the air at the track.  Roaring is a gerund used as the subject.  Usually found at the beginning of the sentence.

Gerunds as Predicate Nominative  A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun which follows the verb and describes or renames the subject. It is another way of naming the subject. It follows a linking verb.  Most of it was cheering. Cheering is a gerund used as the predicate nominative. Gerund as a predicate nominative is a noun found in the predicate.  A predicate nominative completes the meaning of a linking verb.

Gerunds as Direct Objects  A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb in a sentence. It answers the questions what? or whom? about the verb.  Mary hates biting her fingernails. Biting her finger nails is the gerund phrase. It is a direct object in this sentence. Remember direct objects can be found by: subject +verb+ who or what (direct object)? Mary=subject, hates= verb, Mary hates what? = biting her fingernails (direct object).  We could hear thundering. Thundering is a gerund used as a direct object.  Receives the action of the verb.

Gerunds as Indirect Objects  An indirect object is really a prepositional phrase in which the preposition to or for is not stated but understood. It tells to whom or for whom something is done. The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object. Example: She gave me a gift.  In Costa Rica, we gave zip lining a try.  Zip lining is the gerund. It acts as an indirect object in the sentence.  As part of his exercise regimen, Jack madewalking every day a priority.  Walking is the gerund, and walking every day is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as an indirect object in the sentence.

Gerunds as Objects of Preposition  The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun governed by a preposition.The object of a preposition is usually (but not always) the noun or pronoun immediately to the right of the preposition.preposition  When the cars entered the track, we turned our attention toward racing. Racing is the gerund used as the object of the preposition.  Make sure it is in a prepositional phrase by finding the prepositio n.

Participles  A verb acting like an adjective  Often ends in –ing or –ed but occasionally ends in another way  Examples Smiling, the teacher collected homework from her students. I like ice skating on frozen ponds. Barking dogs can be a nuisance. The burnt popcorn made the entire house smell.

Participial Phrases  A participial phrase is a participle and all of its objects or modifiers  Examples Rounding third base, the runner charged toward home plate. The pitcher, losing control, has overthrown the ball. Especially pleased, the crowd cheered loudly.

Hints  Participles and participial phrases are almost always near the noun or pronoun they modify.  Participles and participial phrases can usually be taken out of a sentence and the sentence will still make sense. The skilled catcher trapped the wild pitch in his mitt. The catcher trapped the wild pitch in his mitt.