Examples
Determine a verbal phrase and a verb:
Texting on his phone, the man swerved into a ditch.
verbal phrase texting on his phone functions as an adjective; swerved is the verb.
“Everything in life is luck.“
– Donald Trump
+100
“Good things come to those who wait.“
- Anonymous
+100
Determine a verbal phrase and a verb:
As the cat watched, the two puppies fought over a bone.
verbal phrase as the cat watched functions as an adverb; fought is the verb.
“Chance favors the prepared mind.“
– Louis Pasteur
+200
Which phrase describes the action taking place simultaneously with the action we describe with an attached clause?
Phrases beginning with an -ing
What is the main purpose of changing the position of verbal phrases?
Verbal phrases, like other modifiers, create an opportunity for writers to manipulate emphasis.
“Luck has a peculiar habit of favoring those who don’t depend on it.“
- Anonymous
+200
Determine a verbal phrase and a verb:
Finally, we can afford to buy a new house.
verbal phrase to buy a new house functions as an adverb; can afford is the verb phrase.
Phrases that begin with -ed verbs function as what?
Phrases beginning with an -ed verbal usually function as adjectives.
Determine a verbal phrase and name it:
"Giving the valedictory address at graduation, defying convention by writing my own speech."
"defying"
Verbal phrases that describe a purpose?
Verbal phrases in the "to" form describe a purpose; they may begin with to, just to, or in order to.
Determine a verbal phrase and a verb:
The small dog was reluctant to learn new things.
verbal phrase to learn new things functions as an adverb; was reluctant is the verb phrase.
What type of verbals is represented below?
«Hidden from view»
Past participle
Combine the material into a single sentence, making one sentence an independent clause and transforming the others -ing verbal phrases:
Maura and I sneaked around.
Maura and I hid in cemeteries and in a crowd of friends.
Maura and I were almost never seen together in public alone.
Maura and I sneaked around, hiding in cemeteries and in a crowd of friends, almost never being seen together in public alone.
Sneaking around, hiding in cemeteries, and in a crowd of friends, Maura and I were almost never seen together in public alone.
Combine the sentences in each group by transforming the sentences in bold face into —ing verbal phrases.
"I tried to creep by unnoticed, but he stopped me. He claimed that I was just the fellow he’d been looking for."
I tried to creep by unnoticed, but he stopped me, claiming that I was just the fellow he'd been looking for.
Determine a verbal phrase and a verb:
Walking on the ice, she slipped.
verbal phrase walking on the ice functions as an adjective; slipped is the verb.
"Most students prefer to take challenging classes"
What part of the sentence is the phrase written in italics?
one-word adjective
Find the independent clause and verbal phrases:
Bobbing there on the Rainy River, looking back at the Minnesota shore, I felt a sudden swell of helplessness come over me, a drowning sensation as if I had toppled overboard and was being swept away by the silver waves.
Independent clause: "I felt a sudden swell of helplessness come over me"
Verbal Phrases: "Bobbing...", "looking back..."
The end modifier: "a drowning..."
At one time, to earn a college degree was to secure a ticket to professional, middle-class employment. What part of the sentence is the underlined phrase?
compliment