Verbals and Verbal Phrases

Verbals and Verbal Phrases
Verbals are formed from verbs. Like verbs, they may have modifiers
and complements. However, verbals are used as nouns, adjectives, or
adverbs, not as verbs. The three kinds of verbals are participles,
gerunds, and infinitives.
The Participle
3f. A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective.
EXAMPLES We saw the raccoon escaping through the back door. [The
participle escaping, formed from the verb escape, modifies
the noun raccoon.]
Waxed floors can be dangerously slippery. [The participle
Waxed, formed from the verb wax, modifies the noun
floors.]
Two kinds of participles are present participles and past participles.
(1) Present participles end in –ing.
EXAMPLES We ran inside to get out of the pouring rain. [The present
participle pouring modifies the noun rain.]
Watching the clock, the coach became worried. [The present
participle watching modifies the noun coach.]
Although participles are forms of verbs, they cannot stand alone as
verbs. Participles need to be joined to a helping verb to form a verb
phrase. When a participle is used in a verb phrase, it is part of the verb
and is not an adjective.
VERB PHRASES The rain was pouring.
The coach had been watching the clock.
(2) Past participles usually end in –d or –ed. Other past participles
are formed irregularly.
EXAMPLES A peeled and sliced cucumber can be added to a garden
salad. [The past participles peeled and sliced modify the
noun cucumber.]
The speaker, known for her strong support of recycling, was
loudly applauded. [The irregular past participle known
modifies the noun speaker.]
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Reference Note
For a discussion of irregular
verbs, see page 193.
Identify and use verbals
and verbal phrases correctly.
Identify and use
participles and participial
phrases correctly.
(page 125): Identify and
use participles and participial
phrases correctly.
Verbals and Verbal Phrases 123
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Reference Note
For more about the
passive voice, see
page 209.
HELP
Some sentences
in Exercise 4 contain
more than one participle
used as an adjective.
124 Chapter 3 The Phrase
Like a present participle, a past participle can also be part of a verb
phrase. When a past participle is used in a verb phrase, it is part of the
verb and is not an adjective.
VERB PHRASES I have peeled and sliced the cucumber.
The speaker was known for her strong support
of recycling.
NOTE
Notice in the second example above that a past participle used
with a form of the verb be creates a passive-voice verb. A verb in the
passive voice expresses an action done to its subject.
EXAMPLE The goal was made by Josh. [The action of the verb was
made is done to the subject goal.]
Exercise 4 Identifying Participles and the Words
They Modify
Identify the participles used as adjectives in each of the following sentences.
After each participle, write the noun or pronoun it modifies.
EXAMPLES 1. We searched the island for buried treasure.
1. buried—treasure
2. The speeding train raced past the platform.
2. speeding—train
1. The prancing horses were loudly applauded by the audience.
2. Colorful flags,waving in the breeze, brightened the gloomy day.
3. Swaggering and boasting, the new varsity quarterback made us
extremely angry.
4. The game scheduled for tonight was postponed because of rain.
5. Leaving the field, the happy player rushed to her parents sitting in
the bleachers.
6. Branches tapping on the roof and leaves rustling in the wind made
an eerie sound.
7. We thought the banging shutter upstairs was someone walking in
the attic.
8. Painfully sunburned,Ivowed always to use sunscreen and never to
be so careless again.
9. Terrified by our dog, the burglar turned and fled across the yard.
10. The platoon of soldiers, marching in step, crossed the field to the
stirring music of the military band.

Exercise 5
Using Appropriate Participles
For each blank in the following sentences, provide a participle that fits
the meaning of the sentence.
EXAMPLE 1. The tide washed over the beach.
1. rising
1. Mr. Ortiz explained the effects of pollution and drought on plants
in a rain forest.
2. from the point of view of a firefighter, the story is full of
accurate details.
3. The tiger, from the hunters, swam across the river to safety.
4. at the traffic light, the driver put on his sunglasses.
5. The tourists in the hotel were given a free meal.
6. as an excellent place to camp, the park lived up to its
reputation.
7. by a bee, Steven hurried to the infirmary.
8. The poem describes a spider on a thread.
9. We stumbled off the racecourse, .
10. , I quickly phoned the hospital.
The Participial Phrase
3g. A participial phrase is used as an adjective and consists of a
participle and any complements or modifiers the participle has.
EXAMPLES Seeing the cat, the dog barked loudly.
The cat hissed at the dog barking in the yard next door.
The dog noisily barking at the cat had to be brought in.
In each of the following sentences, an arrow points from the participial
phrase to the noun or pronoun that the phrase modifies.
EXAMPLES Switching its tail, the mountain lion paced back and forth.
[participle with object tail]
She heard me sighing loudly. [participle with the adverb
loudly]
Living within his budget, Adam never needs to borrow
money. [participle with adverb phrase within his budget]
Quickly grabbing the keys, I dashed for the front door.
[participle with preceding adverb Quickly and object keys]
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Reference Note
For information on
punctuating participial
phrases, see page 327.
The participle as a
dangling modifier
is discussed on page 259.
For information on using
participles to combine
sentences, see page 490.
A participial phrase should
be placed very close to
the word it modifies.
Otherwise, the phrase may
appear to modify another
word, and the sentence
may not make sense.
MISPLACED
He saw a moose riding his
motorcycle through the
woods. [The placement of
the modifier riding his
motorcycle calls up a silly
picture. He, not the
moose, is riding the
motorcycle.]
IMPROVED
Riding his motorcycle
through the woods, he
saw a moose.
Verbals and Verbal Phrases 125
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HELP
Some sentences
in Review D contain more
than one participle or
participial phrase.
126 Chapter 3 The Phrase
Exercise 6
Identifying Participial Phrases
Identify the participial phrases in the following sentences, and give the
word each phrase modifies.
EXAMPLE 1. The sight of skyscrapers towering against the sky always
impresses me.
1. towering against the sky—skyscrapers
1. How are skyscrapers created, and what keeps them standing tall?
2. As the drawing shows, columns of steel, or of concrete reinforced
with steel, are sunk into bedrock beneath the building.
3. If a layer of rock isn’t present, these columns are sunk into a thick
concrete pad spread across the bottom of.a deep basement.
4. From this foundation rises a steel skeleton,supporting the walls
and floors.
5. This cutaway drawing shows how this skeleton,covered with a
“skin” of.glass and metal, becomes a safe working and living space
for people.
6. This method of building, first developed in the United States,is
used now in many other places in the world.
7. Chicago, nearly destroyed by fire in 1871, was later rebuilt with
innovative designs.
8. The first skyscraper constructed on a metal frame was built there
during this period.
9. Architects, using the latest materials, were glad to design in
new ways.
10. Chicago, known as the site of.the original 10-story skyscraper,
now is home to the 110-story Sears Tower.
Review D Identifying Participles and Participial
Phrases
Identify the participial phrases and participles that are used as adjectives
in the following sentences. Then, give the words they modify.
EXAMPLE 1. Cats, known for their pride and independence, are
supposedly hard to train.
1. known for their pride and independence—Cats
1. One day I was giving Chops, my spoiled cat, treats.
2. Standing on her hind legs, she reached up with her paw.
3. Chops,grabbing for my fingers, tried to bring the tasty morsel closer.

4. Pulling my hand back a little,Itugged gently on her curved paw,
and she stepped forward.
5. Praising my clever cat,Iimmediately gave her two treats.
6. The next time I held a treat up high, Chops, puzzled but eager,
repeated the grab-and-step movement.
7. Soon Chops was taking steps toward treats held out of.her reach.
8. I now have an educated cat who can walk on two legs.
9. Grabbing the treats and gobbling them down, she has learned that
certain moves always get her a snack.
10. Sometimes after Chops has had her treat, she just sits and looks at
me, no doubt thinking that humans are truly a strange bunch!
The Gerund
3h. A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a
noun.
Like other nouns, gerunds are used as subjects, predicate nominatives,
direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
EXAMPLES The dancing was fun. [subject]
My favorite part of the show was his juggling. [predicate
nominative]
Shauna tried climbing faster. [direct object]
Give winning the game your best. [indirect object]
We worked better after resting. [object of a preposition]
Like other nouns, gerunds may be modified by adjectives and
adjective phrases.
EXAMPLES We listened to the beautiful singing of the famous
soprano. [The article the, the adjective beautiful, and the
adjective phrase of the famous soprano modify the gerund
singing. Singing is used as the object of the preposition to.]
The Mallorys enjoy talking about their vacation. [The
adjective phrase about their vacation modifies the gerund
talking, which is the direct object of the verb enjoy.]
The harsh clacking of the tappets alerted us to a serious
problem in the car’s engine. [The article The, the adjective
harsh, and the adjective phrase of the tappets modify the
gerund clacking.]
Identify and use gerunds
and gerund phrases
correctly.
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