Mastering Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

In the sentence "Swimming is my favorite sport," the verbal is 'Swimming.'

Is it a participle, an infinitive, or a gerund?

• participle

• infinitive

• gerund

• none of the above

Can you identify the sentence where the verbal is used as an adjective?

• Option 1: 'To run faster, he trained every day.' In this sentence, 'to run' is an infinitive used as an adverb to modify the verb 'trained'.

• Option 2: 'Running is a good way to stay fit.' Here, 'running' is a gerund used as a subject.

• Option 3: 'The running water was cold.' In this case, 'running' is a present participle used as an adjective to describe the noun 'water'.

• Option 4: 'He likes to run in the mornings.' In this sentence, 'to run' is an infinitive used as a direct object.

Let's consider the sentence: "She hopes to win the competition."

Can you identify the infinitive in this sentence and its function?

• Hopes - This is a verb in the sentence, not an infinitive. It expresses the action or state of the subject 'She'.

• To win - This is the infinitive in the sentence. It functions as an adverb because it modifies the verb 'hopes', telling us what she hopes.

• The competition - This is a noun in the sentence, serving as the object of the infinitive 'to win'. However, it is not an infinitive itself.

• To win - While this is the correct infinitive, it does not function as an adjective in this sentence. An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun, but 'to win' is modifying the verb 'hopes'.

A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun in a sentence.

Now, can you identify the sentence that contains a gerund from the following options?

• Swimming is my favorite sport.

• The swaying trees are beautiful to watch.

• To swim in the ocean is dangerous.

• She is swimming in the ocean.

Consider this sentence: "The barking dog kept us awake all night." Here, we have a verbal "barking."

Can you identify its function in the sentence?

• Gerund function as a Noun

• Participle functioning as an Adjective

• Infinitive functioning as an Adverb

• Infinitive functioning as as an Adjective

Let's consider the sentence: "To understand verbals, one must practice."

Can you identify the infinitive and determine its function?

• 'To understand' is the infinitive here and it is functioning as a noun. It is the subject of the sentence.

• 'To understand' is the infinitive here and it is functioning as an adjective. This is incorrect because an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun, but here 'to understand' is not modifying any noun or pronoun.

• 'To practice' is the infinitive here and it is functioning as an adverb. This is incorrect because 'to practice' is not an infinitive in this sentence.

• 'To practice' is the infinitive here and it is functioning as a noun. This is incorrect because 'to practice' is not an infinitive in this sentence.

A participle is a form of a verb that is used in a sentence as an ADJECTIVE to modify a noun or noun phrase.

Can you identify which sentence uses a participle as an adjective?

• I have a painting hanging in my room.

• To paint is a wonderful hobby.

• Painting can be a relaxing activity.

• She wants to paint her room blue.

A gerund is a verbal that functions as a noun in a sentence. It is formed by adding 'ing' to the base form of a verb.

Let's consider an example: "Jogging in the morning is a habit for him."

Can you identify the gerund in this sentence and its function?

• Jogging - adjective: This is incorrect. Although 'Jogging' is the gerund in the sentence, it is not functioning as an adjective. An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun.

• In - adverb: This is incorrect. 'In' is a preposition in this sentence, not an adverb. An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb.

• Morning - noun: This is incorrect. Although 'morning' is a noun, it is not the gerund in the sentence. The gerund is the verb form that is functioning as a noun.

• Jogging - noun: This is correct. 'Jogging' is the gerund in the sentence and it is functioning as a noun. It is the subject of the sentence.

Consider this sentence: "To read before bed helps me relax."

In this sentence, what is the function of the infinitive "to read"?

• Adjective: Infinitives function as adjectives when they modify or describe a noun in the sentence. For example, 'I have a book to read.'

• Adverb: Infinitives function as adverbs when they modify or describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in the sentence. For example, 'I am eager to leave.'

• Noun: Infinitives function as nouns when they act as the subject, the direct object, or the subject complement in a sentence. For example, 'To read before bed helps me relax.'

• Participle: Participles are verb forms used as adjectives. They are not typically associated with infinitives. For example, 'The broken window was repaired.'

A participle is a form of a verb that is used in a sentence to modify a noun or noun phrase.

Can you identify the sentence that correctly uses a participle as an adjective?

• Option 1: The cat likes to sleep on the windowsill. In this sentence, 'to sleep' is an infinitive verb used to express the cat's preference or habit.

• Option 2: Sleeping can be difficult when you're stressed. Here, 'Sleeping' is a gerund, which is a verb form that acts as a noun in the sentence.

• Option 3: The sleeping cat on the windowsill looks peaceful. In this sentence, 'sleeping' is a present participle used as an adjective to describe the cat.

• Option 4: To sleep for eight hours is recommended for health. In this sentence, 'to sleep' is an infinitive verb expressing a general recommendation.