Verbals ~ Gerunds and Infinitives

Verbals ~ Gerunds, Infinitives, Participles

Focus: Gerunds

A verbal is a word that looks like a verb but functions as another part of speech.

• gerund - a verbal that functions as a noun

• participle - a verbal that functions as an adjective

• infinitive - a verbal that functions as either a noun, adjective, or adverb

A gerund is a word that ends in -ing and ALWAYS functions as a noun. To identify a gerund, you must know the functions/jobs that nouns perform.

• Nouns can be subjects.

• Nouns can be objects - direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the prepositions

• Nouns can be predicate nouns.

• Nouns can be appositives

Remember, if you see an -ing word behind a helping verb, then the -ing word is a verb.

• She might be singing in the play. The word singing is a verb because the helping verb be is before it.

• The friends are exercising together. The word exercising is a verb because the helping verb are is before it.

• The students were talking too much. The word talking is a verb because the helping verb were is before it.

Multiple Choice

Running is my favorite exercise to do.

The word running is a gerund because it is an -ing word that is functioning as a noun.

It also does not have a helping verb with it. What is the function of this gerund?

• subject

• direct object

• indirect object

• object of the preposition

• predicate noun

Multiple Choice

My grandma loves baking cakes.

The word baking is a gerund because it is an -ing word that is functioning as a noun.

It also does not have a helping verb with it. What is the function of this gerund?

• subject

• direct object

• indirect object

• object of the preposition

• predicate noun

Multiple Choice

I am tired of trying.

The word trying is a gerund because it is an -ing word that is functioning as a noun.

It also does not have a helping verb with it. What is the function of this gerund?

• subject

• direct object

• indirect object

• object of the preposition

• predicate noun

A phrase consists of at least two words. Phrases do not have verbs in them.

A gerund phrase includes a gerund and any modifiers or objects of the gerund. Note: A prepositional phrase can be a part of a gerund phrase.

I enjoy talking with my friends.

In this sentence, talking with my friends is a gerund phrase. It is functioning as a direct object, which is one of the jobs that nouns have.

Talking with my friends eases my mind.

In this sentence, talking with my friends is a gerund phrase. It is functioning as a subject, which is one of the jobs that nouns have.

I got in trouble for talking with my friends during class.

In this sentence, talking with my friends is a gerund phrase. It is functioning as the object of the preposition, which is one of the jobs that nouns have.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a gerund phrase?

• We were thinking about the problem.

• Watering our garden made our tomatoes perfect!

• He was napping in the hammock on our porch.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a gerund phrase?

• I was worried about the upcoming math test.

• He began studying three days in advance.

• She was shivering from the cold.

• There was a slight chance of snow accumulation.

Be careful, sometimes there will be an ing word that is neither a gerund nor a verb. Instead, it is a participle.

• Participles function as adjectives, meaning they describe nouns.

• Gerunds must function as nouns - meaning they will either be subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the prepositions, predicate nouns, or appositives. That's it!

• Looking like a ghost, she walked into the room.

• In the sentence above, the phrase looking like a ghost is not a gerund phrase. It's a participial phrase. Do you know why?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences contains a gerund phrase?

• Cowering in the corner, the frightened boy wiped his tears away.

• My dog wagged his tail in excitement.

• They were driving at least ten miles over the speed limit.

• My sister will never try driving my car again!