Verbals and verbal phrases practice – Embark on a comprehensive journey into the realm of verbals and verbal phrases, where the intricacies of language unfold before your very eyes. This definitive guide will illuminate the nature of verbals, empowering you to harness their versatility for clear and impactful communication.
Prepare to delve into the depths of gerunds, infinitives, and participles, unraveling their distinct characteristics and exploring their diverse roles within sentences. Discover how gerunds assume the mantle of nouns, infinitives modify with precision, and participles adorn adjectives with elegance.
Verbals and Verbal Phrases: Verbals And Verbal Phrases Practice
Verbals are words that are derived from verbs but function as other parts of speech, such as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. They are used to express actions or states of being without actually using a verb in the traditional sense.
Definition and Types of Verbals
There are three main types of verbals: gerunds, infinitives, and participles.
- Gerundsare verbals that end in -ing and function as nouns.
- Infinitivesare verbals that are formed by adding “to” to the base form of a verb and function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
- Participlesare verbals that end in -ing or -ed and function as adjectives.
Gerunds as Nouns
Gerunds can function as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences.
- Subjects:Running is my favorite hobby.
- Objects:I enjoy playing the piano.
- Complements:My goal is to improve my writing skills.
Infinitives as Adjectives and Adverbs, Verbals and verbal phrases practice
Infinitives can modify nouns (as adjectives) or verbs (as adverbs).
- Adjectives:I have a book to read.
- Adverbs:She walked slowly to the store.
Participles as Adjectives
Participles can function as adjectives to describe nouns.
- Present participles:The running child was out of breath.
- Past participles:The broken vase was lying on the floor.
Verbal Phrases
Verbal phrases are groups of words that contain a verbal and any modifiers or objects that go with it.
| Type of Verbal Phrase | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund phrase | Gerund + modifiers + objects | Running down the street |
| Infinitive phrase | Infinitive + modifiers + objects | To go to the store |
| Participle phrase | Participle + modifiers + objects | Running down the street |
Helpful Answers
What are the different types of verbals?
Verbals encompass gerunds (verbals ending in -ing that function as nouns), infinitives (verbals preceded by ‘to’ that can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs), and participles (verbals that can function as adjectives or adverbs).
How can I identify gerunds in a sentence?
Gerunds are often preceded by prepositions and function as nouns, performing actions like subjects, objects, or complements.
What is the purpose of infinitives in writing?
Infinitives serve as versatile tools, modifying nouns as adjectives, adverbs, or complements, adding depth and nuance to sentences.
