The Verbal It looks like a verb; it doesn’t act like a verb; it’s a VERBAL!!
The Verbal
It looks like a verb; it doesn’t act like a verb;
it’s a VERBAL!!
Participles!
• A participle is a verbal that is used as an adjective and most often ends in -ing or -ed.
• However, since they function as adjectives, participles modify nouns or pronouns.
• There are two types of participles: present participles and past participles. Present participles end in -ing. Past participles end in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n, as in the words asked, eaten, saved, dealt, and seen.
Participle- the adjective
• The crying baby had a wet diaper.
What word is crying modifying?
Answer:Crying modifies the noun baby
Participles- modify…
• Smiling, she hugged the panting dog.
What words do smiling and panting modify?
Answer:Smiling modifies she (subject)Panting modifies dog (noun- DO)
You try again. Name all of the parts of the sentence
• Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.
Answer:Participle: HavingParticipial Phrase: Having been a gymnastSubject- LynnVerb- knewPrepositional phrase- of exercise
Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise.
Placement of a Participle
• In order to prevent confusion, a participial phrase must be placed as close to the noun it modifies as possible, and the noun must be clearly stated.
Misplaced modifier:Carrying a heavy pile of books, his foot caught on a step. * .Corrected:Carrying a heavy pile of books, he caught his foot on a step.
Punctuation:
• When a participial phrase begins a sentence, a comma should be placed after the phrase:
Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed.
Answer:Arriving (at the store), I found that it was closed.participle prepositional phrase verb dependent clause
subject
Dissect this sentence finding all parts: subject, verb, participle, prepositional phrase, and dependent clause:
Points to Remember• A participle is a verbal ending in -ing (present) or -ed, -
en, -d, -t, or -n (past) that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun.
• A participial phrase consists of a participle plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).
• Participles and participial phrases must be placed as close to the nouns or pronouns they modify as possible, and those nouns or pronouns must be clearly stated.
• A participial phrase is set off with commas when it: • a) comes at the beginning of a sentence • b) interrupts a sentence as a nonessential element • c) comes at the end of a sentence and is separated from
the word it modifies.
Gerunds
A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun.
However, since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence that a noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject complement, and object of preposition.
Gerund as subject:
• Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
Answer:Traveling- GerundMight satisfy- verbFor new experiences- prepositional phrase
Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
Now you try:
• Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do.
Answer:Finding (gerund)a needle (direct object of action expressed in gerund)in a haystack (prepositional phrase as adverb)Verb- would be easierthan what we're trying to do (essential dependent clause
Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do.
Gerund as direct object:
• They do not appreciate my singing.
Answer:Subject- TheyVerb- do not appreciateD.O.- my singing
They do not appreciate my singing.
Now you try- Gerund as D.O.
• I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.
Answer:Subject- IVerb- hopeEssential dependent clause- that you appreciateAdjective- myGerund- offering
D.O.- this opportunity (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.
Gerund as object of preposition:
• The police arrested him for speeding.
Answer:Subject- policeVerb- arrestedD.O.- himPrepositional phrase- for speedingGerund- speeding [object of the prep. (noun)]
The police arrested him for speeding.
Now you try- Object of the Prepositional Phrase
• You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work. (malinger!)
Answers:Subject- YouVerb- might getPrepositional phrase- in troublePrepositional phrase- for fakingInfinitive- to avoid work (to avoid work infinitive phrase as adverb) Gerund- faking (object of preposition)D.O- an illness (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.
Points to Remember- Gerund
• A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun.
• A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).
• Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation
Infinitives
• An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb (in its simplest "stem" form) and functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. The term verbal indicates that an infinitive, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, the infinitive may function as a subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb in a sentence. Although an infinitive is easy to locate because of the to + verb form, deciding what function it has in a sentence can sometimes be confusing.
Can you tell what function the infinitive takes?
To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required.
We must study to learn.
Answer: Subject
Everyone wanted to go. Answer: Direct Object
Answer: adverb
He lacked the strength to resist. Answer: adjective
Infinitive or Prepositional Phrase?
• to fly, to draw, to become, to enter, to stand, to catch, to belong
• to him, to the committee, to my house, to the mountains, to us, to this address
Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives
• What is the bold part of the sentence?
• Stay away from running water. • The dog chased the fluttering moth. • Borrowing money is usually a mistake. • I nodded to show respect.• After closing on her house, Tanya
decided to sell some of the furniture. • Dancing is my favorite hobby.
The Finale!!The Finale!!
Credits:
• http://www.truthtree.com/verbals.shtml• http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hyp
ergrammar/verbals.html• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resour
ce/627/01/