VERBALS - Review. Infinitives

Transcription

1 VERBALS - Review Infinitives 1. Infinitives consist of to + a verb, e.g., to run. 2. Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives or adverbs. 3. Infinitives can join together with modifiers, objects and complements to form infinitive phrases. 4. Infinitive phrases can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. 5. When the word "to" is omitted from the infinitive, it is called a root infinitive. 6. Infinitives can be used in a perfect tense to express a time prior to the main verb. The word "have" is used between to and the verb. Gerunds 1. When a verb form ending in ing is used as a noun, it is called a gerund. 2. Gerunds can perform any of the noun functions subject of a verb, direct object of a verb, indirect object of a verb, subjective complement and object of a preposition. 3. Gerunds can combine with their objects, complements and modifiers to form gerund phrases. 4. Gerund phrases can perform any of the five noun functions mentioned in #2. Participles 1. A participle is a verb form used as an adjective. 2. Active participles end in ing. 3. Passive participles end in ad, t, d, en, or n. 4. Participles can join with their objects, complements and modifiers to form s. 5. Participles can be used in a perfect tense to express a time prior to the main verb. The word "having" is attached to the participle. 6. An absolute phrase is a type of where the participle modifies a word inside the phrase itself. Exercise A Underline all the verbal phrases in the following sentences. Tell in the blanks whether they are infinitive, gerund or s.

2 1. Accusing others does not lessen his guilt. 2. To apologize to him would have been to admit defeat. 3. Asked for his opinion, the lawyer launched into a bitter criticism, sparing no one in his attack. 4. It was easy to understand Ted s motive to impress his future bride. 5. For an hour I sat there patiently, sympathizing with Mary-Jo, but wishing myself miles away. 6. Borrowing more money from Mr. Flint is simply jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. 7. At what age do children usually stop believing in Santa Claus? 8. Having worn out his welcome here, Clancy went over to join the girls sitting in the corner booth. 9. What good will burying your head in the sand do? 10. You have no right to have pried into my business. 11. Still dreaming of fame as an author, Ruth took with her a collection of her stories, some written with great care, others dashed off very quickly. 12. His chief source of entertainment was spying on us. 13. A reported standing nearby recognized the woman holding the baby and rushed to her to offer his help. 14. The chief himself recommended painting all the fire

3 equipment yellow. 15. Crying wolf so often will get him into trouble one day. Exercise B After you have corrected exercise 4A, use the same sentence to describe the function of each phrase: If it is an infinitive phrase, tell whether it is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. If it is used as a noun, tell which of the noun functions it performs (subject of the verb, object of the verb, object of the preposition, subjective complement). If it is used as an adjective or adverb, tell which word it modifies. If it is a gerund phrase, tell which of the noun functions it performs If it is a, tell which word it modifies. ANSWER KEY Exercise A 1. Accusing others gerund phrase 2. To apologize to him infinitive phrase 3. Asked for his opinion Sparing no one his attack 4. to understand Ted s motive infinitive phrase to impress his future bride infinitive phrase 5. Sympathizing with Mary-Jo Wishing myself miles away 6. Borrowing more money from Mr. Flint gerund phrase Jumping out of the frying pan into the fire gerund phrase 7. Believing in Santa Claus gerund phrase 8. Having worn out his welcome here

4 to join the girls infinitive phrase Sitting in the corner booth 9. Burying your head in the sand gerund phrase 10. to have pried into my business infinitive phrase 11. Written with great care Dashed off very quickly Dreaming of fame 12. Spying on us gerund phrase 13. Standing nearby Holding the baby to offer his help infinitive phrase 14. Painting all the fire equipment yellow gerund phrase 15. Crying wolf gerund phrase Exercise B 1. Subject of the verb does lessen 2. Noun, subject of the verb would have been Noun, subjective complement of the verb would have been 3. Modifying the noun lawyer Modifying the noun lawyer 4. Adverb, modifying the adjective easy Noun, in apposition to the noun motive 5. Modifying the pronoun I Modifying the pronoun I 6. Subject of the verb is Subjective complement of the verb is 7. Object of the verb stop

5 8. Modifying the noun Clancy Adverb, modifying the verb went Modifying the noun girls 9. Subject of the verb will do 10. Adjective, modifying the noun right 11. Modifying the noun Ruth Modifying the noun stories Modifying the noun stories 12. Subjective complement of the verb was 13. Modifying the noun reporter Modifying the noun woman Adverb, modifying the verb rushed 14. Object of the verb recommended 15. Subject of the verb will get