Verbal phrases A moment of grammar 6

Verbal phrases in general A verbal phrase is a phrase introduced by a verbal A verbal is a form of a verb used as a part-of-speech different than verb. A verbal can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. A verbal could be the direct object in one sentence, or it could be a predicate adjective. A verbal retains some properties of verbs even though they function as a different p-O-S. They express action or state of being, and they may take complements.

Verbal phrases in general (continued) A verbal phrase consists of the verbal with any modifiers and complements Introductory participial phrases need a comma Three kinds of verbal phrases Participial phrase Gerund phrase Infinitive phrase

Participial phrases A participial phrase is a phrase starting with a participle The phrase includes the participle and its modifiers and complements. A participial phrase is used like an adjective. Two types: present participle and past participle Participles may have one or more auxiliary verbs Examples We watched the men constructing a dam. Being wrong most of the time, he lost his confidence.

Present and past participles Present participles You form the present participle by adding –ing to the infinitive form of the verb Past participles You form the past participle is formed in one of two ways depending on whether the verb is regular or irregular Regular—add –d or –ed to the verb Irregular—add –en or –t , for instance, depending on the verb

Participial phrases (examples) Present participles The aging watchmaker repaired my watch. Disappointed, the losing team filed into the room. Past participles Having finished, I turned off the projector. Surprised by the call, I could barely speak. Participles also help form absolute phrases.

Gerunds and Gerund phrases A gerund phrase is a phrase introduced by a Gerund An gerund phrase is made of the gerund and its modifiers and complements. It may be used as a noun. A gerund is a verb ending in –ing used as a noun Examples Earning the money was difficult. The phrase is the subject of the sentence. For playing cards he was fired. The phrase is the object of the preposition for .

Infinitive phrase