The Verbal

It looks like a verb; it doesn’t act like a verb;

it’s a VERBAL!!

Participles!

• A participle is a verbal that is used as an adjective and most often ends in -ing or -ed.

• However, since they function as adjectives, participles modify nouns or pronouns.

• There are two types of participles: present participles and past participles. Present participles end in -ing. Past participles end in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n, as in the words asked, eaten, saved, dealt, and seen.

Participle- the adjective

• The crying baby had a wet diaper.

What word is crying modifying?

Answer:Crying modifies the noun baby

Participles- modify…

• Smiling, she hugged the panting dog.

What words do smiling and panting modify?

Answer:Smiling modifies she (subject)Panting modifies dog (noun- DO)

You try again. Name all of the parts of the sentence

• Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.

Answer:Participle: HavingParticipial Phrase: Having been a gymnastSubject- LynnVerb- knewPrepositional phrase- of exercise

Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.

Placement of a Participle

• In order to prevent confusion, a participial phrase must be placed as close to the noun it modifies as possible, and the noun must be clearly stated.

Misplaced modifier:Carrying a heavy pile of books, his foot caught on a step. * .Corrected:Carrying a heavy pile of books, he caught his foot on a step.

Punctuation:

• When a participial phrase begins a sentence, a comma should be placed after the phrase:

Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed.

Answer:Arriving (at the store), I found that it was closed.participle prepositional phrase verb dependent clause

subject

Dissect this sentence finding all parts: subject, verb, participle, prepositional phrase, and dependent clause:

Points to Remember• A participle is a verbal ending in -ing (present) or -ed, -

en, -d, -t, or -n (past) that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun.

• A participial phrase consists of a participle plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).

• Participles and participial phrases must be placed as close to the nouns or pronouns they modify as possible, and those nouns or pronouns must be clearly stated.

• A participial phrase is set off with commas when it: • a) comes at the beginning of a sentence • b) interrupts a sentence as a nonessential element • c) comes at the end of a sentence and is separated from

the word it modifies.

Gerunds

A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun.

However, since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence that a noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject complement, and object of preposition.

Gerund as subject:

• Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

Answer:Traveling- GerundMight satisfy- verbFor new experiences- prepositional phrase

Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

Now you try:

• Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do.

Answer:Finding (gerund)a needle (direct object of action expressed in gerund)in a haystack (prepositional phrase as adverb)Verb- would be easierthan what we're trying to do (essential dependent clause

Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do.

Gerund as direct object:

• They do not appreciate my singing.

Answer:Subject- TheyVerb- do not appreciateD.O.- my singing

They do not appreciate my singing.

Now you try- Gerund as D.O.

• I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.

Answer:Subject- IVerb- hopeEssential dependent clause- that you appreciateAdjective- myGerund- offering

D.O.- this opportunity (direct object of action expressed in gerund)

I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.

Gerund as object of preposition:

• The police arrested him for speeding.

Answer:Subject- policeVerb- arrestedD.O.- himPrepositional phrase- for speedingGerund- speeding [object of the prep. (noun)]

The police arrested him for speeding.

Now you try- Object of the Prepositional Phrase

• You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work. (malinger!)

Answers:Subject- YouVerb- might getPrepositional phrase- in troublePrepositional phrase- for fakingInfinitive- to avoid work (to avoid work infinitive phrase as adverb) Gerund- faking (object of preposition)D.O- an illness (direct object of action expressed in gerund)

You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.

Points to Remember- Gerund

• A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun.

• A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).

• Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation

Infinitives

• An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb (in its simplest "stem" form) and functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. The term verbal indicates that an infinitive, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, the infinitive may function as a subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb in a sentence. Although an infinitive is easy to locate because of the to + verb form, deciding what function it has in a sentence can sometimes be confusing.

Can you tell what function the infinitive takes?

To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required.

We must study to learn.

Answer: Subject

Everyone wanted to go. Answer: Direct Object

Answer: adverb

He lacked the strength to resist. Answer: adjective

Infinitive or Prepositional Phrase?

• to fly, to draw, to become, to enter, to stand, to catch, to belong

• to him, to the committee, to my house, to the mountains, to us, to this address

Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

• What is the bold part of the sentence?

• Stay away from running water. • The dog chased the fluttering moth. • Borrowing money is usually a mistake. • I nodded to show respect.• After closing on her house, Tanya

decided to sell some of the furniture. • Dancing is my favorite hobby.

The Finale!!The Finale!!

Credits:

• http://www.truthtree.com/verbals.shtml• http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hyp

ergrammar/verbals.html• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resour

ce/627/01/