Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

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What is a gerund?

Back

A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and functions as a noun in a sentence. Example: 'Swimming is fun.'

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What is a participle?

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A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective. There are present participles (ending in -ing) and past participles (usually ending in -ed or -en). Example: 'The running water is cold.'

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What is an infinitive?

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An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by 'to'. Example: 'To dance is her passion.'

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Identify the gerund in this sentence: 'I enjoy reading books.'

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The gerund is 'reading'.

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Identify the participle in this sentence: 'The broken vase lay on the floor.'

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The participle is 'broken'.

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Identify the infinitive in this sentence: 'She wants to learn Spanish.'

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The infinitive is 'to learn'.

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What is the function of a gerund in a sentence?

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A gerund functions as a noun in a sentence.

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What is the function of a participle in a sentence?

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A participle functions as an adjective in a sentence.

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What is the function of an infinitive in a sentence?

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An infinitive can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

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Give an example of a gerund used in a sentence.

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Example: 'Jogging is a great way to stay fit.'