verbals verbals are words that seem to carry the idea of action or being but do not function as a...

VerbalsVerbals

VerbalsVerbals are words that seem to are words that seem to carry the idea of action or being but carry the idea of action or being but do not function as a verbdo not function as a verb..Three forms:Three forms:

ParticiplesParticiplesInfinitivesInfinitivesGerundsGerunds

ParticiplesParticiples

A A participleparticiple is a verb is a verb formform that can that can be used as an be used as an adjectiveadjective.. Ex: The rapidly Ex: The rapidly developingdeveloping storm kept storm kept

the small boats in the port.the small boats in the port. Ex: I found her Ex: I found her cryingcrying..


There are two basic kinds of There are two basic kinds of participles: participles: present participlepresent participle and and past participlepast participle..

PresentPresent participles describe a present participles describe a present condition and end in condition and end in –ing–ing.. Ex: We watched the puppies Ex: We watched the puppies playingplaying. . Ex: The Ex: The runningrunning dog chased the dog chased the flutteringfluttering

leaf.leaf.


PastPast participles describe something participles describe something that has happened and may end in a that has happened and may end in a variety of endings (see W449).variety of endings (see W449). Ex: The puppies, Ex: The puppies, exhaustedexhausted, collapsed. , collapsed. Ex: The Ex: The confusedconfused student failed the test. student failed the test. Ex: The Ex: The shakenshaken soda exploded when soda exploded when

opened.opened.


In all, there are five tenses for In all, there are five tenses for participles:participles: Present activePresent active Present passivePresent passive PastPast Present perfectPresent perfect Past perfectPast perfect

ParticiplesParticiples Present active – Present active – SeeingSeeing the robbery, we the robbery, we

called the police.called the police. Present passive – Present passive – After After being seenbeing seen by by

the police, the thief fledthe police, the thief fled.. Past – Past – The thief, The thief, seenseen by the police, by the police,

fledfled.. Present perfect active – Present perfect active – Having seenHaving seen

the robbery, we were dismayedthe robbery, we were dismayed.. Present perfect passive – Present perfect passive – Having been Having been

seenseen, the thief surrendered., the thief surrendered.


A A participial phraseparticipial phrase is a phrase is a phrase containing a containing a participleparticiple and any and any complementscomplements or or modifiersmodifiers it may have. it may have. Ex: Ex: Removing his coatRemoving his coat, Jack sat in the , Jack sat in the

chair.chair. Ex: We saw Jeff Ex: We saw Jeff playing in the gameplaying in the game.. Ex: Ex: Spread with white linenSpread with white linen, the table , the table

gleamed.gleamed.

GerundsGerunds A A gerundgerund is a verb form ending in is a verb form ending in ––

inging that is used as a that is used as a nounnoun in either in either the nominative or objective case.the nominative or objective case.

Nominative case forms:Nominative case forms: Ex: Ex: WalkingWalking is healthful exercise. is healthful exercise.

[subject][subject] Ex: My father’s occupation is Ex: My father’s occupation is farmingfarming. .

[PN][PN]

GerundsGerunds

Objective case forms:Objective case forms: Ex: They do not appreciate my Ex: They do not appreciate my singingsinging. .

[DO][DO] Ex: Mr. Feeley gave the Ex: Mr. Feeley gave the writingwriting high high

praise. [IO]praise. [IO] Ex: He makes money in the summer by Ex: He makes money in the summer by

cuttingcutting lawns. [OP] lawns. [OP] Ex: The Ex: The writing’swriting’s clarity impressed the clarity impressed the

committee. [Possessive]committee. [Possessive]

GerundsGerunds

A A gerund phrasegerund phrase is a phrase is a phrase consisting of a gerund and any consisting of a gerund and any complements or modifiers it may complements or modifiers it may have.have.

Like single word gerunds, gerund Like single word gerunds, gerund phrases have a variety of uses.phrases have a variety of uses. Ex: Ex: Giving out the candyGiving out the candy is my favorite is my favorite

activity at Halloween. [Subject]activity at Halloween. [Subject]

GerundsGerunds

My greatest thrill was My greatest thrill was meeting Cal meeting Cal RipkenRipken. [PN]. [PN]

My brother enjoys My brother enjoys working as a working as a lifeguardlifeguard. [DO]. [DO]

We were punished for We were punished for talking in the hall. talking in the hall. [OP][OP]

InfinitivesInfinitives

An An infinitiveinfinitive is a verb form, usually is a verb form, usually preceded by preceded by toto..

Infinitive can be used as Infinitive can be used as nounnoun (nominative or objective cases), (nominative or objective cases), adjectivesadjectives, or , or adverbsadverbs..


Most often used as a Most often used as a noun noun in either the in either the nominativenominative or or objectiveobjective case. case. Ex: Ex: To leaveTo leave would be rude. [Subject] would be rude. [Subject] Ex: Our goal is Ex: Our goal is to beat to beat Calvert Hall. [PN]Calvert Hall. [PN] Ex: No one wants Ex: No one wants to stayto stay. [DO]. [DO] Ex: In order Ex: In order to maketo make good grades, one must good grades, one must

study properly. [OP]study properly. [OP] There is no possessive or indirect object There is no possessive or indirect object

form.form.


Infinitives can also be used as Infinitives can also be used as modifiersmodifiers.. Ex: She is the candidate Ex: She is the candidate to watchto watch. .

[[adjectiveadjective modifying modifying candidatecandidate]] Ex: Some Dons lack the will Ex: Some Dons lack the will to resistto resist

temptation on weekends.temptation on weekends. Ex: We came Ex: We came to cheerto cheer the team. [ the team. [adverbadverb

modifying the verb modifying the verb camecame]] Ex: We run Ex: We run to improveto improve our conditioning. our conditioning.


Be sure to recognize an infinitive.Be sure to recognize an infinitive. Do not confuse the infinitive, a Do not confuse the infinitive, a verbalverbal

of which of which toto is a part, with a is a part, with a prepositionalprepositional phrasephrase beginning with beginning with toto, which consists of , which consists of toto plus a noun plus a noun or pronoun.or pronoun. Ex: to go; to sleep [infinitives]Ex: to go; to sleep [infinitives] Ex: to them; to bed [prep. phrases]Ex: to them; to bed [prep. phrases]


The word The word toto, called , called the sign of the the sign of the infinitiveinfinitive, is sometimes omitted., is sometimes omitted. Ex: The comedian made him [to] Ex: The comedian made him [to] laughlaugh.. Ex: Help me [to] Ex: Help me [to] cleanclean the kitchen. the kitchen.


An An infinitive phraseinfinitive phrase may consist of an may consist of an infinitive and any infinitive and any complementscomplements or or modifiersmodifiers.. Ex: They promised Ex: They promised to return soonto return soon. [. [soonsoon

is an adverb modifying the infinitive is an adverb modifying the infinitive to to returnreturn]]

Ex: I saved enough money Ex: I saved enough money to buy a carto buy a car. . [[carcar is the complement of the infinitive is the complement of the infinitive to to buybuy]]


Like infinitives alone, Like infinitives alone, infinitive phrasesinfinitive phrases can be used as nouns and modifiers.can be used as nouns and modifiers. Ex: Ex: To succeed in lifeTo succeed in life is every man’s goal. is every man’s goal.

[subject][subject] Ex: His plan is Ex: His plan is to go to collegeto go to college. [PN]. [PN] Ex: We tried Ex: We tried to reason with himto reason with him. [object]. [object] Ex: There must be a way Ex: There must be a way to solve thisto solve this

problemproblem. [adjective]. [adjective]


Like other parts of speech, infinitives Like other parts of speech, infinitives have tenses:have tenses: Present activePresent active Present passivePresent passive Present perfect activePresent perfect active Present perfect passivePresent perfect passive


Use the Use the presentpresent infinitive ( infinitive (to goto go, , to to seesee, etc.) , etc.) to express action following to express action following another actionanother action.. Ex: He Ex: He wanted to invitewanted to invite all the freshmen. all the freshmen.

[present infinitive should be used [present infinitive should be used because the desire because the desire wantwant preceded the preceded the action action to inviteto invite]]

Ex: He Ex: He wanted to be seenwanted to be seen at the mixer at the mixer with all his friends.with all his friends.


Use the Use the perfectperfect infinitive ( infinitive (to have to have gonegone, , toto have seenhave seen, etc.) , etc.) to express to express action before another actionaction before another action.. Ex: We Ex: We areare happy happy to have metto have met you. [the you. [the

action expressed by the perfect infinitive action expressed by the perfect infinitive to have metto have met came before the time of the came before the time of the other verb, other verb, areare]]

Ex: We Ex: We were to have been seenwere to have been seen by the by the President, but we were too late.President, but we were too late.

verbals verbals are words that seem to carry the idea of action or being but do not function as a...

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