1. Phrases: Participles, gerund, and infinitive

2. Verbals: Participles
When a verb is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb, it is called a verbal.
A participle is a verbal. Participles are a form of a verb that can act as an adjective.
Present participles usually end in –ing (frightening, entertaining)
Past participles usually end in –ed (frightened, entertained), but many have irregular endings such as burnt and written.
Like other adjectives, participles answer the questions: What kind? Or Which one?
Jane’s tearing eyes betrayed her sadness.
What kind of eyes? Tearing.
The shattered tiles need to be replaced.
Which tiles? The shattered tiles

3. Participle Phrase
A participle phrase is a participle modified by an adverb or adverbial phrase or accompanied by a complement. The entire participle phrase acts as an adjective.
With an adverb: Traveling quickly, we arrived on time.
With an adverb phrase: Traveling at breakneck speed, we arrived on time.
With a complement: Avoiding delays, we arrived on time.
If it is nonessential, you will use commas. If it is essential, don’t use commas

4. Verb or Participle?
A verb shows an action, a condition, or the fact something exists.
A participle acting acts as an adjective to modify a noun or a pronoun.
The dog is growling at the intruder.
What is the dog doing?
The growling dog attacked the intruder.
Which dog?
A participle phrase is a participle modified by an adverb or adverbial phrase or accompanied by a complement. The entire participle phrase acts as an adjective.

5. Gerunds
Gerunds are a form of a verb that ends in -ing and acts as a noun.
Subject: Reading is my favorite pastime.
D.O. I enjoy reading.
I.O. The coach gave running a new meaning.
P.N. My sister’s favorite activity is running.
Object of the Preposition: Their well-behaved horses showed signs of training.
Appositive: Dan’s profession, acting, is very competitive.

6. Verb, Participle, or Gerund?
Gerunds are words ending in -ing that act as nouns.
Gerunds do not have helping verbs.
They do not act as adjectives.
Verb: Gabby is singing in her seat
Participle: The singing girl is very joyful.
Gerund: Singing is very soothing
Note how the verb uses “is” as a helping verb in the first example, and how singing is modifying girl in the second example.

7. Gerund Phrase
A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and one or more modifiers of a complement. These phrases act together as a noun.
We can have gerund phrases with adjectives:
His constant, angry, ranting made the commander difficult to tolerate.
With an adverb:
Speaking loudly is not always easy.
With a prepositional phrase
Walking on the grass is prohibited here.

8. Gerund Phrases With a Direct Object
Blaine was incapable of remembering the speech.
With an I.O and D.O.
The literature professor tried giving her student praise.
Always use the possessive pronoun before a gerund.

9. Infinitive
An infinitive phrase is a form of a verb that generally appears with the word “to” in front of it and acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Examples:
Subject:To teach requires practice and patience
D.O.:The students decided to read
P.N.:The girl’s only option was to drive home.
Obj of Prep:I have no goal in life except to sing.
Appositive:You have only one option, to wait.
Ajective:The team showed a willingness to cooperate.
Adverb: Some people were unable to sing.
They like to read quietly.

10. Preposition or Infinitive?
A prepositional phrase will always end in a noun or pronoun.
An infinitive always ends with a verb.
Sometimes the “to” is omitted, but understood, using these verbs:
Dare, hear, help, let, make, please, see, watch.
Example:
He won’t dare (to) go without a plan.
Bob helped mike (to) see the game.

11. Infinitive Phrases
An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and its modifies, complements, or subject, all acting together as a single part of speech.
Infinitive phrases can be long!
With an adverb: The family likes to read quietly
With an adverb phrase: To run on the sand is sometimes difficult.
With a direct object: Annie hated to leave San Francisco.

12. Infinitive Phrases Examples continued
With an I.O. and a D.O.: She promised to show us the video from her soccer game.
With a Subject and a Complement: I want him (subject) to decide his own future (complement).