Recognizing VerbalsRecognizing VerbalsRecognizing VerbalsRecognizing Verbals

A verbal is a verb that is being used as another part of speech rather than as a verb.

A verbal is a verb that is being used as another part of speech rather than as a verb.

There are three types of VerbalsThere are three types of Verbals

• Participles• Gerunds• Infinitives

– The swept floor looked immaculate. – Blowing out the candles is always fun.– Sometimes I like to sit and think.

• Participles• Gerunds• Infinitives

– The swept floor looked immaculate. – Blowing out the candles is always fun.– Sometimes I like to sit and think.

Participles Participles

• A participle is a verbal that acts as an adjective.

– The crying child was comforted by her mother.

– My bruised elbow took a few days to heal.

• A participle is a verbal that acts as an adjective.

– The crying child was comforted by her mother.

– My bruised elbow took a few days to heal.

GerundsGerunds

• A gerund is a verbal that acts as a noun.

- Bowling is not a great exercise

- Most people relax by watching TV.

• A gerund is a verbal that acts as a noun.

- Bowling is not a great exercise

- Most people relax by watching TV.

InfinitivesInfinitives

• An infinitive starts with the word “to” and often acts as a noun. It can also act as an adverb, or adjective.

– I like to skate. (noun)– To steal is a crime. (noun)– Jane always brings a book to read (adj.)– Bob raised his voice to get our attention

(adv.)

• An infinitive starts with the word “to” and often acts as a noun. It can also act as an adverb, or adjective.

– I like to skate. (noun)– To steal is a crime. (noun)– Jane always brings a book to read (adj.)– Bob raised his voice to get our attention

(adv.)

A quick reviewA quick review

• Gerunds end in “ing” and act as nouns.

– Wishing on a star will make your dreams come true.

• Infinitives begin with “to” and act as nouns, adverbs, or adjectives.

– The perfomer struggled to reach the high notes.

• Participles end in “ing,” “ed,” “en,” or “t” and act as adjectives.

– The roasted peanuts are the best.

• Gerunds end in “ing” and act as nouns.

– Wishing on a star will make your dreams come true.

• Infinitives begin with “to” and act as nouns, adverbs, or adjectives.

– The perfomer struggled to reach the high notes.

• Participles end in “ing,” “ed,” “en,” or “t” and act as adjectives.

– The roasted peanuts are the best.

Dangling, or Misplaced ModifiersDangling, or Misplaced Modifiers

• A dangling or misplaced modifier is a word or a phrase that is in the wrong place or is missing its intended target.

– Having arrived late, the coach demanded a written excuse.

Who arrived late? It’s not clear from this sentence. Here’s one fix:

-- The coach demanded a written excuse from the players who arrived late.

• A dangling or misplaced modifier is a word or a phrase that is in the wrong place or is missing its intended target.

– Having arrived late, the coach demanded a written excuse.

Who arrived late? It’s not clear from this sentence. Here’s one fix:

-- The coach demanded a written excuse from the players who arrived late.

Fixing misplaced modifiersFixing misplaced modifiers

Make sure to place the participial phrase close to the word it modifies.

• Playing flawlessly, the home team won.• Fooling around, we broke the lamp.

Note how the undelined participial phrases are followed by a comma because

they come at the beginning of the sentence and before the word that is being modified.

Make sure to place the participial phrase close to the word it modifies.

• Playing flawlessly, the home team won.• Fooling around, we broke the lamp.

Note how the undelined participial phrases are followed by a comma because

they come at the beginning of the sentence and before the word that is being modified.