1. Verbal phrases
A moment of grammar 6

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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 .

8. Infinitive phrase