Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Verbal phrases
Subordinate word groups
Grammar Basics

A verbal is a verb form that does not function as the verb of a clause. Verbals include infinitives (the word to plus the base form of the verb), present participles (the -ing form of the verb), and past participles (the verb form usually ending in -d, -ed, -n, -en, or -t). (See 27a and 47c.)

Instead of functioning as the verb of a clause, a verbal functions as an adjective, a noun, or an adverb.

Verbals with objects, complements, or modifiers form verbal phrases.

✵ In my family, singing loudly is more appreciated than singing well.

Like verbals, verbal phrases function as adjectives, nouns, or adverbs. Verbal phrases are ordinarily classified as participial, gerund, or infinitive.

Participial phrases

Participial phrases always function as adjectives. Their verbals are either present participles (such as dreaming or asking) or past participles (such as stolen or reached).

Participial phrases frequently appear immediately following the noun or pronoun they modify.

Participial phrases are often movable. They can precede the word they modify.

They may also appear at some distance from the word they modify.

Gerund phrases

Gerund phrases are built around present participles (verb forms that end in -ing), and they always function as nouns: usually as subjects, subject complements, direct objects, or objects of a preposition.

Infinitive phrases

Infinitive phrases, usually constructed around to plus the base form of the verb (to call, to drink), can function as nouns, as adjectives, or as adverbs. When functioning as a noun, an infinitive phrase may appear in almost any noun slot in a sentence, usually as a subject, subject complement, or direct object.

Infinitive phrases functioning as adjectives usually appear immediately following the noun or pronoun they modify.

The infinitive phrase modifies the noun right. Which right? The right to vote.

Adverbial infinitive phrases usually qualify the meaning of the verb, telling when, where, how, why, under what conditions, or to what degree an action occurred.

Why did they roll up their pants? To wade through the floodwaters.

EXERCISE 49-2

Underline the verbal phrases in the following sentences. Tell whether each phrase is participial, gerund, or infinitive and how each is used in the sentence. Answers appear in the back of the book.

a. Updating your software will fix the computer glitch.

b. The challenge in decreasing the town budget is identifying nonessential services.

c. Cathleen tried to help her mother by raking the lawn.

d. Understanding little, I had no hope of passing my biology final.

e. Working with animals gave Steve a sense of satisfaction.