Verbals and Verbal Phrases
Participial Phrases
Gerund Phrases
Infinitive Phrases
PARTICIPIAL, GERUNDIAL, OR INFINITIVAL PHRASE?
100
What is a verbal?
A verbal is a verb that is acting as something other than a verb that may be modified by adverbs and may have complements. NOTE: a verbal NEVER acts as a verb.
100
That hymn,sung by many generations of churchgoers, is my favorite.
sung by many generations of churchgoers
100
Gerund or Gerundial Phrase? Marcia loves sewing.
Gerund
100
To finish her shift without spilling another pizza into a customer's lap is Michelle's only goal tonight.
To finish her shift without spilling another pizza into a customer's lap= Subject
100
To avoid burning another bag of popcorn, Brendan pressed his nose against the microwave door, sniffing suspiciously.
To avoid burning another bag of popcorn= Infinitive
200
Identify the verbal in this sentence: Preparing for exams frustrates student.
Preparing
200
Joseph hoped to obtain a job by learning the welding trade.
There is none!
200
Staring at the items on the sales rack, Jill could not make a quick decision.
There is none!
200
Kelvin, an aspiring comic book artist, is taking Anatomy and Physiology this semester to understand the interplay of muscle and bone in the human body.
To understand the interplay of muscle and bone in the human body= Adverb (It explains why Kelvin is taking the class.)
200
The car stopping at the light was hit by the truck.
stopping at the light= Participial Phrase
300
What is the verbal in the sentence? Identify its kind. To see the future before my eyes is frightening.
To see= Infinitive
300
My dad's present, bought by his sisters, was a gold watch.
bought by his sisters
300
Identify the Gerundial Phrase and its function: Going on a cruise and climbing Mt. Rushmore are Rachel’s summer vacation plans.
Going on a cruise and climbing Mt. Rushmore= subject
300
We had an opportunity to watch the fireworks.
"to watch the fireworks" = adjective.
300
Working out daily should be an essential part of American life.
Working out daily= Participial Phrase
400
Identify the verbal phrase in the sentence. Discouraging news was being broadcast in all channels.
Discouraging news
400
Loving my profession keeps me happy.
There is none!
400
Identify the gerund: "Thinking about the trip, Luis was packing suitable clothes for sightseeing."
In this sentence, "thinking" is a present participle modifying Luis and "packing" is part of the verb phrase "was packing". ONLY sightseeing, used as the object of the preposition "for", is an gerund.
400
He is eager to please everyone.
"to please everyone"= Adverb
400
You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.
faking an illness to avoid work= Gerundial Phrase
500
Gerundial or participial phrase? The orchestra members enjoy rehearsing for long periods of time.
Gerundial Phrase= Direct Object
500
The basketball team, encouraged by its performance in the semifinals, went on to the finals.
encouraged by its performance in the semifinals
500
Identify the Gerund phrase and its function: Can you pass the test by studying very hard this month?
studying very hard this month= object of the preposition
500
Her job was to hire the best people available.
to hire the best people available= Predicative Nominative (Subjective Complement, Predicate)
500
Hurriedly fastening his backpack, Joe rushed off to school.
fastening his backpack= Participial Phrase
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