Verbals Quiz

What is the underlined phrase in this sentence?

To survive in the wilderness was the camper's goal.

• Gerund

• Participle

• Infinitive

Answer explanation

To + a verb = infinitive

What is the underlined word in this sentence?

Wandering campers can get stranded if they are not careful.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

Wandering describes campers, which is a noun; therefore wandering is an adjective. Verbs that end in -ing and function as an adjective are participles.

What is the underlined phrase in this sentence?

To run from the bear was their only choice.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

to + verb = infinitive

What is the underlined word in this sentence?

Screaming only made the bear chase after them more aggressively.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

screaming is a verb that ends in -ing, so it's either a gerund or a participle. Because it is functioning as a noun (as the subject of the sentence) it is a gerund.

What is the underlined word in this sentence?

There was broken glass all along the trail.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

Broken is in past tense. The word "to" is not in front of it; therefore, it is a participle.

What is the underlined word in this sentence?

Our campsite was a mess from the bear's rummaging.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

Rummaging ends in -ing, so it's either a gerund or a participle. It is a noun, specifically functioning as an object of a preposition; therefore, it is a gerund.

What is the underlined word in this sentence?

The thing that I missed the most was running water.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

Running ends in -ing. It describes a noun, so it is functioning as an adjective, which makes is a participle.

What is the underlined word in this sentence?

Scared by the bears, we all hid in our tents.

• Gerund

• Participles

• Infinitives

Answer explanation

Scared is in past tense. The only one of these in past tense is a participle.

What is the underlined phrase in this sentence?

Although I had my doubts, camping turned out to be very fun.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

Camping ends in -ing, so it's either going to be a participle or a gerund. Is it functioning as an adjective (participle) or noun (gerund)? Noun, specifically a subject.

What is the underlined phrase in this sentence?

The campers, starving and exhausted, returned to the campsite after a long hike.

• gerund

• participle

• infinitive

Answer explanation

starving ends in -ing, so it could be a gerund or a participle. exhausted ends in -ed, so it can only be a participle. starving is describing the campers (noun); therefore, it is a participle as well.