Name: Date: LESSON 33 Verbal Phrases Verbals are verb forms that act as namers (nouns) or modifiers (adjectives or adverbs). There are three kinds of verbals: participles, gerunds, and infinitives. Participial Phrases A participle is a verb form that ends in ing, d, or ed and that acts as an adjective, modifying a noun or a pronoun. A participial phrase is made up of a participle and all of the words related to the participle, which may include objects, modifiers, and prepositional phrases. The entire phrase acts as an adjective. Running quickly around the side of the house, Ned tried to head off the unleashed dog. (The participle running, the adverb quickly, and the prepositional phrases around the side and of the house make up the participial phrase that modifies Ned.) Hillary prepared fresh vegetable soup from ingredients picked early from the garden. (The participle picked, the adverb early, and the prepositional phrase from the garden make up the participial phrase that modifies ingredients.) For variety, begin some of your sentences with participial phrases. However, be sure to place each participial phrase close to the word it modifies. Otherwise, you may say something you do not mean. misplaced participial phrase revised sentence revised sentence Billowing from every window, we saw clouds of smoke. We saw clouds of smoke billowing from every window. Billowing from every window, clouds of smoke wafted toward us. EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style LEVEL V, UNIT 4 143
E X E R C I S E 1 Identifying Participial Phrases in Literature Identify the four participial phrases in the literature passage below. Then identify the noun or pronoun the participial phrase modifies. Although Glaspell brings new vigor to the myth, the attention given to Mrs. Hale s resewing the quilt, the change in Mrs. Peters s perspective on law and justice, and the rope placed by Mrs. Wright around her husband s neck are nonetheless grounded in the story of the Three Sisters who control the fate of men. Furthermore, the information concerning the domestic life of the Wrights is supplied, or spun, mainly by Mrs. Hale; she describes Mr. Wright as a hard man, and, with her recollections of the young Minnie Foster (now Mrs. Wright) as kind of like a bird (82), she establishes the connection of Mr. Wright s involvement in the physical death of the canary and spiritual death of his wife. The condescending manner in which the men joke about the women s concern regarding Mrs. Wright s intention to quilt or just knot the quilt evokes a defensive remark from Mrs. Hale in which she hints that it is unwise to tempt fate; she asserts, I don t see as it s anything to laugh about (79 80). from Glaspell s Trifles, page 723 Judith Kay Russell E X E R C I S E 2 Understanding Participial Phrases Include each of the following participial phrases in a complete sentence. Try to vary your sentence structure, and be sure to place each participial phrase close to the word it modifies. 144 LEVEL V, UNIT 4 Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style EMC Publishing, LLC
1. dripping from the broken pipe 2. stuffed with books and snacks 3. sleeping peacefully 4. filmed on videotape 5. running with his suitcase 6. located in the center 7. watching the squirrel 8. studying for the test 9. wilted on the vine 10. dropped on the floor E X E R C I S E 3 Using Participial Phrases in Your Writing For a special school newspaper edition honoring the administrators and teachers, write a portrait of the person who you believe touches the most lives. Consider how this person acts, speaks, motivates others, and simply does his or her job. Use participial phrases in your portrait to explain the person s importance. Use your own sheet of paper for this exercise. EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style LEVEL V, UNIT 4 145
Gerund Phrases A gerund phrase is a phrase made up of a gerund (a verb form ending in ing) and all of its modifiers and complements. Unlike a participial phrase, a gerund phrase functions as a noun. This means that it may be the subject, predicate nominative, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition in a sentence. A gerund s modifiers include adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases. Reading the newspaper is a good way to start the day. (The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence.) A good way to start the day is reading the newspaper. (The gerund phrase functions as the predicate nominative of the sentence.) Sally dislikes reading the newspaper because of all the bad news. (The gerund phrase functions as the direct object of the verb.) Michelle gives reading the newspaper too much time. (The gerund phrase functions as an indirect object of the verb.) Mom s first cup of coffee is accompanied by reading the newspaper. (The gerund phrase functions as the object of a preposition.) E X E R C I S E 4 Identifying Gerund Phrases Identify the gerund phrases in the sentences below. Then tell whether the gerund phrase is used as a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, indirect object, or object of the preposition. 1. Leslie enjoyed swimming in the pool after a long day s work. 2. Studying for the exam three days in advance was a great idea. 3. For creating intricate details on the ship in a bottle, you need to have good eyes. 4. Nathaniel s pastime is painting beautiful pictures of nature. 5. My mother gives working at her job all her time. 146 LEVEL V, UNIT 4 Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style EMC Publishing, LLC
E X E R C I S E 5 Understanding Gerund Phrases Write a sentence for each of the following gerund phrases. Be sure to use each phrase as the subject, predicate nominative, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition. 1. racing to the airport 2. practicing many hours a day 3. making hardly a sound 4. honking of horns and ringing of church bells 5. learning to speak Spanish 6. filling the cavity 7. working hard 8. capturing the imagination 9. baking beautiful cakes 10. clanging and banging EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style LEVEL V, UNIT 4 147
E X E R C I S E 6 Using Gerund Phrases in Your Writing For the Guinness Book of World Records, write an entry touting your real or fictional accomplishments in strength, speed, endurance, teamwork, big business, charitable contributions, fashion, movies, computers, or some other area. Explain where, when, what, why, and how you did what you did. In your paragraph, use at least four gerund phrases. Infinitive Phrases An infinitive phrase is made up of an infinitive (a verb form preceded by the word to) and all its modifiers and complements. Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Alma went to get the mail. (The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb.) Kim expects to swim in the Olympic trials this fall. (The infinitive phrase functions as a noun.) Sometimes the to of an infinitive phrase is understood rather than written. This happens frequently after such verbs as see, hear, feel, watch, help, know, dare, need, make, let, and please. Eva didn t dare [to] tell her mother about the dented fender. The toddler refused to let his blanket [to] go. 148 LEVEL V, UNIT 4 Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style EMC Publishing, LLC
E X E R C I S E 7 Identifying Infinitive Phrases in Literature Identify the eight infinitive phrases in the literature passage below. How laudable it is for a prince to keep good faith and live with integrity, and not with astuteness, everyone knows. Still the experience of our times shows those princes to have done great things who have had little regard for good faith, and have been able by astuteness to confuse men s brains, and who have ultimately overcome those who have made loyalty their foundation. You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second. It is therefore necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man. This was covertly taught to rulers by ancient writers, who relate how Achilles and many others of those ancient princes were given to Chiron the centaur to be brought up and educated under his discipline. The parable of this semi-animal, semi-human teacher is meant to indicate that a prince must know how to use both natures, and that the one without the other is not durable. from The Prince, page 635 Niccolò Machiavelli 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. E X E R C I S E 8 Understanding Infinitive Phrases Complete each of the following sentences with an infinitive phrase. 1. Anthony hopes. 2. The darkening clouds suggest it is likely. 3. Harold has a remarkable ability. 4. would be a pity. EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style LEVEL V, UNIT 4 149
5. If Mary gets the job, she is going. 6. On Saturday, they have plans. 7. Your genes dictate that you are likely. 8. Without proper training, do not attempt 9. With little need for water, the cactus is able 10. is not unusual. E X E R C I S E 9 Using Infinitive Phrases in Your Writing Imagine that you have been invited to contribute to a book for teens titled How to Do Anything. As your submission, write a recipe or a set of brief directions, explaining how to make or do something, such as prepare potato salad, change a flat tire, or play a computer game. Be sure to give your instructions in order, and add any special advice to ensure that the process is carried out with good results. Use at least five infinitive phrases in your directions... 150 LEVEL V, UNIT 4 Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style EMC Publishing, LLC