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VERBALS AND VERBAL PHRASES

       

DEFINITION: VERBALS are verb forms that are used as other parts of speech.

            These words are really 2 parts of speech in one. Verbals are formed from verbs and function very much like verbs; they may be modified by adverbs and they may have complements. They are, however, used as other parts of speech.

 

THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF VERBALS:

            I.PARTICIPLES

            2. GERUNDS

            3. INFINITIVES

     A. THE PARTICIPLE

            DEFINITION: A PARTICIPLE is a verb form used as an adjective.

                        THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PARTICIPLES: PRESENT PARTICIPLE AND PAST PARTICIPLE

                                    TO FORM PRESENT PARTICIPLE--verb + ing

                                    TO FORM PAST PARTICIPLE verb + ed

            EXAMPLE :      The crying baby hid under the table. (present participle)

                                    Defeated teams should congratulate the winners.  (past participle)

 

            NOTE: Although participles are formed from verbs, they are not used to stand alone as

                        verbs. A participle may, however, be used with a helping verb to form a verb phrase.

                                   

                                    EXAMPLE:       The baby was crying. (participle used as part of verb phrase)

                                                            The teacher had been pointing at me.

                                                When a participle is used as a verb phrase, it is considered as part of the verb, not as an                                                                           adjective.

            THE PARTICIPIAL PHRASE

                        DEFINITION: A PARTICIPIAL PHRASE consists of a participle and its related. words, such as

                                    modifiers and complements, all of which act together as an adjective.

 

                        EXAMPLE:       Tackled on the one-foot line, he fumbled the ball.

                                    Outwitting the hounds, the raccoon easily escaped

 

                        NOTE: A participial phrase should be very close to the word it modifies. Otherwise, the phrase may appear to                                                             modify another word.

     B. THE GERUND

            DEFINITION: A GERUND is a verb form ending in -ing that is used as a noun.

                        NOTE: Like nouns, gerunds are used as subjects, predicate nominatives, direct objects or objects of prepositions.

            EXAMPLE:       Walking is good exercise. (subject)

                                    My hobby is sewing. (predicate nominative) .

                                    Lauren enjoys reading. (direct object)

                                    That is used for dnlling. (object of.preposition)

                        NOTE: 1. Like nouns, gerunds may be modified by adjectives and adjective phrases.

                                                EXAMPLE: We listened to the beautiful singing of the glee club.

                                    2. Like verbs, gerunds may also be modified by adverbs and adverb phrases.

                                                EXAMPLE: Basking in the sun is my favorite pastime.

 

            THE GERUND PHRASE

 

            DEFINITION:  A GERUND PHRASE consists of a gerund together with its complements and modifiers, all of which act together as a noun phrase.

 

            EXAMPLE:       The loud knocking by the visitor awakened the beagle.(WHAT awakened the beagle?)       

                                    I dislike talking loudly in the corridor.  (WHAT dos she dislike???)

     C. THE INFINITIVE

            DEFINITION: AN INFINITIVE is a verb form, usually preceded by the word ‘to’, that is used as a noun, adjective, or                                                                                                                                                                         adverb.

               An infinitive consists of the plain form of the verb, usually preceded by the word ‘to’.

           

            1. INFINITIVES USED AS NOUNS

               To forget often causes people fright.     WHAT causes people fright??)

                Libby offered to help. (WHAT did Libby offer???)

            2. INFINITIVES USED AS ADJECTIVES.

                The player to watch is the quarterback. (WHICH player is the quarterback??)                            

                 That was a day to remember.    (WHICH day was it???)

            3. INFINITIVES USED AS ADVERBS.

                 Mrs. Jones rose to speak.     (WHY did Mrs. Jones rise???)   

                 Eager to please, my dog obeyed my command. (HOW was the dog eager??)

 

             THE INFINITIVE PHRASE

                        DEFINITION:  AN INFINITIVE PHRASE consists of an infinitive together with its complements and modifiers.

                        EXAMPLE: To interrupt a speaker abruptly is impolite.     (Infintive phrase used as a noun)

                                          She is the person to see about the job.          (Infinitive phrase used as an adjective)

                                           They were glad to hear the answer.              (Infinitive phrase used as an adverb)