1. Grammar Chapter 7
Verbals

2. Verbals
Verbal: a word formed from a verb but acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
Gerund: a verbal that ends in “-ing” and acts as a noun.
Participle: a verbal that acts as an adjective.
Infinitive: a verb form that usually begins with the word “to” and acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

3. Gerunds as Nouns and Phrases
Gerund: a verbal that ends in “-ing” and acts as a noun.
Gerund Phrase: a gerund with its modifiers and complements.
Gerunds and gerund phrases can be used anywhere that nouns can be used

4. Participles and Participial Phrases
Participle: a verbal that acts as an adjective.
Present participle: ends in “-ing” and modifies a noun or pronoun.
Past participle: ends in “-ed” unless an irregular verb.
Participial phrase: a participle plus its modifiers and complements.
Part of Speech
Example
Present Participle
The laughing children fell to the ground. (laughing describes the children)
Past Participle
The interested students read their books.
(interested describes the students)
Participial Phrase
Working in the fields, the farmers were very tired. (working describes the farmers)

5. Participles vs. Gerunds vs. Verbs
Part of Speech
Example
Explanation
Participle
The crying baby is very upset.
“Crying” can be replaced by an adjective (angry)
Gerund
The crying is due to his hunger.
“Crying” can be replaced by a noun (noise)
Verb
He is crying because he is upset.
“Crying” follows a helping verb (is)

6. Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases
Infinitive: a verb form that usually begins with the word “to” and acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Infinitive phrase: an infinitive with its complements and modifiers.
Part of Speech
Example
Noun
To run quickly is the goal of track.
Adjective
Her goal to run quickly was attainable. (describes the goal)
Adverb
To run quickly, she will train everyday. (describes why she will train)

7. Infinitive Phrase vs. Prepositional phrase
Since “to” can be a preposition, it is important to note the difference between an infinitive phrase and a prepositional phrase.
Infinitive phrase: “to” is followed by a verb
Prepositional phrase: “to” is followed by noun, pronoun, or modifier
Type of Phrase
Example
Infinitive
I like to swim in the ocean.
(swim is a verb)
Prepositional
I like to go to the ocean to swim. (the ocean is a noun)