Verbals and Verbal Phrases The student analyzes the structure of a sentence (basic sentence parts).

What is a VERBAL?  A verb acting like another part of speech  3 types: infinitives, gerunds, and participles

Infinitives  to + a verb  Can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence  Examples: I like to read before I go to sleep. Most people like to watch comedies on TV. To succeed in school, you must work hard.

Infinitives vs. Prepositional Phrases  Be aware that the word TO does not always mean you have an infinitive.  If TO is not followed by a verb, it is NOT an infinitive. I like to shop at the mall. Let’s go to the mall.  Which sentence contains an infinitive and which sentence contains a prepositional phrase? Why?

Gerunds  A verb acting like a noun  Always ends in –ing  Can be used as subjects, direct objects and indirect objects, objects of prepositions, and predicate nominatives.

Gerunds continued  Examples Swimming is my favorite sport. Do you like riding horses? Many students like playing basketball in PE.  Gerund or not? The dog, carrying its bone in its mouth, ran around the house.  Carrying is NOT a gerund; not used as a noun Smiling is an indication that a person is happy.  Smiling is a gerund; it is used as a noun (subject of the the sentence)

Participles  A verb acting like an adjective  Often ends in –ing or –ed but occasionally ends in another way  Examples Smiling, the teacher collected homework from her students. I like ice skating on frozen ponds. Barking dogs can be a nuisance. The burnt popcorn made the entire house smell.

Participial Phrases  A participial phrase is a participle and all of its objects or modifiers  Examples Rounding third base, the runner charged toward home plate. The pitcher, losing control, has overthrown the ball. Especially pleased, the crowd cheered loudly.

Hints  Participles and participial phrases are almost always near the noun or pronoun they modify.  Participles and participial phrases can usually be taken out of a sentence and the sentence will still make sense. The skilled catcher trapped the wild pitch in his mitt. The catcher trapped the wild pitch in his mitt.