Verbal Phrases

A verbal is a verb form that does not serve as a verb in the sentence; however, it functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

A verbal phrase consists of a verbal and anything it modifies or describes.

There are three kinds of verbal phrases: infinitives, participles, and gerunds.

Infinitive Phrase

An infinitive is the word to plus a verb.

An infinitive functions as a noun (the subject, direct object, or predicate nominative), adjective, or adverb.

To open the present required scissors.

The words to open begin the infinitive (to plus a verb), while the words the present modify to open. This phrase functions as the subject of the sentence.

Participial Phrase

A participle is a word that looks like a verb but functions as an adjective, while describing a noun or pronoun.

The participle will end in either -ing or -ed (unless it is an irregular verb).

The participial phrase is the participle plus any words it modifies or describes.

Twirling around in circles, the ballerina performed her dance.

The word twirling looks like a verb, but it really describes ballerina.

Tackled on the twenty-yard line, Derrick fumbled the ball.

The word tackled looks like a verb, but it actually describes what happened to Derrick.

Notice that both examples inserted commas after the phrase.

Those are called introductory phrases, and the writer must punctuate phrases at the beginning of sentences.

Watch No Nonsense Grammar: How to Use Prepositional Phrases (0:44).

Gerund Phrase

A gerund looks like a verb, but it functions as a noun.

The gerund ends in -ing, so you must not confuse gerunds for participles.

A gerund can serve as the subject, direct object, subject complement, or object of preposition.

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any other word that modifies or describes it.

I love running.

This sentence is easy because it only has one word that has an –ing ending.

A helpful hint detecting gerunds is to replace the word you think is a gerund with the words it or somebody.

I love it.

The replacement works; the word is a gerund.

Taking a test in the early morning makes me remember the information from the previous night.

Try the "it" test.

______ makes me remember the information from the previous night.

The phrase is a gerund functioning as a noun.

Watch What Are Verbals.