1. Participles Gerunds Infinitives
Verbals
Participles
Gerunds
Infinitives

2. What Are Verbals?
Verbals are forms of action verbs that do NOT function as verbs.
Instead, they function as the following:
Adjectives (participles)
Nouns (gerunds)
Noun, adjective, or adverb (infinitive)

3. Overview of Nouns ___________ is enjoyable. I like _____________.
Subject
___________ is enjoyable.
I like _____________.
My favorite activity is ____________.
I am hooked on ______________.
My favorite activity, ___________ , is enjoyable. DO PN OP
appositive

4. Overview of Nouns __Baseball___ is enjoyable. I like __baseball___.
Subject
__Baseball___ is enjoyable.
I like __baseball___.
My favorite activity is ___baseball____.
I am hooked on ___baseball____.
My favorite activity, __baseball__ , is enjoyable. DO PN OP
appositive

5. What Are Gerunds? Examples:
A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that acts as a noun.
A gerund can be a subject, direct object, object of preposition, predicate nominative, or appositive. Hence, it can be anywhere in a sentence.
Examples:
Swimming is great exercise! (gerund as subject)
For exercise I love swimming! (gerund as direct object)
I get exercise by swimming! (gerund as object of preposition)
My favorite type of exercise is swimming! (gerund as predicate nominative)
The best form of exercise, swimming, is fun! (gerund as appositive)

6. What Are Gerund Phrases?
A gerund phrase …
consists of a gerund and its complements and modifiers (related words that further describe or complete the gerund’s meaning); the gerund can be anywhere within the phrase.
acts as a noun (S, DO, OP, PN, App.).
can be in different positions in a sentence.
can be replaced by the word it
Gerund Phrase = gerund + complements/modifiers
Examples:
Running a mile daily helps me stay fit.
To stay fit, I enjoy running a mile daily.
I stay fit by running a mile daily.
Gerund phrase as subject
Gerund phrase as direct object
Gerund phrase as object of preposition

7. How to Find Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
Look for the predicate (main verb) of the sentence, and underline it twice.
He enjoys reading mystery novels.
Then find the subject by asking who? or what? before the predicate (a gerund or gerund phrase could be the subject), and underline it once.
Look for an action verb that ends in –ing and see if it (and its related words) can be replaced with the word it. Be careful! If the word ending in -ing has a helping verb before it or if it is describing another word, it is a participle not a gerund!
Gerund phrase - contains a gerund and the whole phrase can be replaced with the word it

8. How Are Gerunds Punctuated?
A gerund or gerund phrase usually does NOT require any punctuation because it usually functions as a S, DO, PN, or OP, which are not set off with commas!
Exception: Gerunds or gerund phrases that function as nonessential appositives are set off with commas.
Example:
My favorite exercise, swimming, keeps me fit!
Commas needed because swimming functions as a nonessential appositive!

9. Flying usually reduces travel time but increases costs.
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
Flying usually reduces travel time but increases costs.

10. Flying usually reduces travel time but increases costs.
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
Gerund as subject!
Flying usually reduces travel time but increases costs.

11. I usually enjoy watching old movies.
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
I usually enjoy watching old movies.

12. The entire gerund phrase acts as the direct object!
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
The entire gerund phrase acts as the direct object!
I usually enjoy watching old movies.

13. Camping in the woods is great fun!
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
Camping in the woods is great fun!

14. The entire gerund phrase acts as the subject!
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
The entire gerund phrase acts as the subject!
Camping in the woods is great fun!

15. My father likes to exercise his mind by working crossword puzzles.
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
My father likes to exercise his mind by working crossword puzzles.

16. The entire gerund phrase acts as the object of the preposition by!
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
The entire gerund phrase acts as the object of the preposition by!
My father likes to exercise his mind by working crossword puzzles.

17. Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
The best stress reducer, exercising, is also a great way to lose weight.

18. Gerund as nonessential appositive!
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
Gerund as nonessential appositive!
The best stress reducer, exercising, is also a great way to lose weight.

19. My best stress reducer is exercising.
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
My best stress reducer is exercising.

20. Gerund as predicate nominative!
Find the gerund or gerund phrase in the following sentence. Also, identify its function: S, DO, OP, PN, or A.
My best stress reducer is exercising.
Gerund as predicate nominative!

21. Don’t confuse a gerund with a participle because both can end in -ing
Don’t confuse a gerund with a participle because both can end in -ing! Gerund = noun Participle = adjective or part of verb phrase (when preceded by a helping verb)
The dogs barking in my neighborhood (essential participial phrase) scared the intruders.
The dogs in my neighborhood were barking (participle as part of verb phrase) at intruders.
Barking loudly at intruders (introductory participial phrase), the dogs in my neighborhood woke me up.
Our dog Spot alerted us by barking loudly at intruders (gerund phrase as object of preposition).
Barking loudly at intruders (gerund phrase as subject) makes Spot a good watchdog.

22. Which sentence contains a gerund or gerund phrase?
The screaming child was getting on my nerves.
Screaming loudly is a great way to get on my nerves.

23. Which sentence contains a gerund or gerund phrase?
participle
The screaming child was getting on my nerves.
Screaming loudly is a great way to get on my nerves.
predicate
gerund phrase as subject

24. Which sentence contains a gerund or gerund phrase?
The students sitting on the sidewalk were tired from the long walk.
The students rested after the long walk by sitting on the sidewalk.

25. Which sentence contains a gerund or gerund phrase?
Participial phrase
The students sitting on the sidewalk were tired from the long walk.
The students rested after the long walk by sitting on the sidewalk.
gerund phrase as object of the preposition by

26. Which sentence contains a gerund or gerund phrase?
My sister recently quit smoking.
My sister recently quit her bad smoking habit.

27. Which sentence contains a gerund or gerund phrase?
gerund as direct object
My sister recently quit smoking.
My sister recently quit her nasty smoking habit.
participle