Grammar: English 2: Verbal Phrases

English 2: Grammar: Verbal Phrases

Learning Target • Use various types of phrases to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.

Phrase

A phrase is a word group that does NOT have both a subject and a verb and that functions as a part of speech, such as a noun or modifier (adjective or adverb).

There are many different kinds of phrases. You can enliven your writing by using phrases to vary your syntax and add detail.

Verbals

• A verbal is a verb form that is used as a noun, adjective, or adverb. A verbal phrase is a word group that contains a verbal and its modifiers and complements and that acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb. 

• Three types of verbals are:

• Participle and participle phrases

• Gerund

• Infinitive

Participle phrase

A participle is a verb form, often ending in –ing, that can be used as an adjective.

A participial phrase includes a participle and any modifiers or objects of the participle.

Example: The skunk, frightened by the dog, sprayed him with foul-smelling musk.

[The phrase modifies skunk.]

Example: Smelling like a skunk, the distressed dog rolled and rolled in the grass.

[The phrase modifies dog.]

Gerund

A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun.

A gerund phrase includes a gerund and any modifiers or objects of the gerund.

Example: Spraying the dog made the dog and the shed and the yard smell bad.

[The phrase is a noun functioning as the subject.]

Example: The dog will never try frightening

a skunk again.

[The phrase is a noun that is the direct object of will try.]

Infinitive

An infinitive is a verb form preceded by to that can be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

An infinitive phrase includes an infinitive and any modifiers or objects of the infinitive.

Example: You do not want to smell that dog.

[The phrase is a noun that is the direct object of do want.]

Example:I read that bathing the dog in tomato juice is one way to remove the odor.

[The phrase is an adjective modifying way.]

Example: Are you willing to help me try that?

[The phrase is an adverb modifying the adjective willing.]

Check Your Understanding

Identify each boldface word group on the next slides as either a participial phrase, a gerund phrase, or an infinitive phrase.

and choose whether it functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Multiple Choice

1. Do you like to make stop-motion animations?

• infinitive phrase, noun

• gerund phrase, noun

• participle phrase, verb

• infinitive phrase, verb

• gerund phrase, verb

Multiple Choice

I made one about a huge sea-creature living in the ocean.

• participial phrase, noun

• participle phrase, verb

• participial phrase, adjective

• gerund, adjecive

• infinitive, noun

Multiple Choice

Scaring sharks was its favorite pastime.

• gerund phrase, verb

• participle phrase, noun

• infinitive phrase, noun

• gerund phrase, noun

• gerund phrase, verb

Multiple Choice

It also startled passengers on a boat heading for Alcatraz.

• participial phrase, noun

• participial phrase, verb

• gerund phrase, adjective

• participial phrase, adjective

• gerund phrase, noun

Multiple Choice

To take enough photos for a three-minute clip took a long time.

• infinitive phrase, verb

• infinitive phrase, noun

• infinitive phrase, adjective

• participial phrase, noun

• participial phrase, adjective

Read each of the following sentences

Identify the verbal phrases and choose the correct answer

Multiple Choice

The children staying next door are going outside to work on a clubhouse.

• staying next door ; to work on a clubhouse

• the children; are going

• on a clubhouse

• to work

Multiple Choice

Are you excited to hear the news about going to the game?

• are you excited

• to hear the news; going to the game

• are you excited to hear; to the game

• to hear; going

Multiple Choice

Searching for prey, the snake tried slithering near the compost pile.

• the snake tried; the compost pile

• searching for prey

• searching for prey; slithering near

• the compost pile

Multiple Choice

That building looming over the avenue is ninety stories high and is capable of swaying in high winds to avoid damage in storms.

• the building looming; in high winds

• looming over the avenue; swaying in high winds

• to avoid damage in storms

• looming over the avenue; swaying in high winds; to avoid storm damage

Multiple Choice

My hard drive crashed, causing no end of agony and teaching me to back up my files more often.

• causing no end of agony; teaching me; to back up my files

• my hard drive crashed

• teaching me; to back up my files more often

• to back up my files more often