Verbal Phrase =

• A phrase that is centered around a verb form.

• This verb form is NOT used as a verb in the sentence

• It is used as a noun, adjective or adverb.

There are 3 kinds of verbals or verbal phrases:

GERUND PARITCIPLE INFINITIVE

1. GERUND

…centers around a verb form ending in -ING

…is always used as a noun
…is never surrounded by commas (except for appositives)
Caution! -ING verb forms can also be
verbs or adjectives (These are NOT gerunds.)
…can be used in each of the noun positions

EXAMPLES:
• Swimming the mile is my best event.
• I like swimming the mile.
• My best event is swimming the mile.
• I gave swimming the mile a try.
• He lectured us about swimming the mile.
• My best event, swimming the mile, was canceled.

2. INFINITIVE
Center around TO + verb
Verb is “naked” – No endings (-ing, -ed, etc.)
Examples: to go, to sit, to talk, etc.
Can be used as noun, adj. or adv.
Caution! Do not confuse with prepositional phrases using “to”
(to school, to me, to us, to them, to lunch, etc.)

• I wanted to go to the mall today.

• To sleep all day is unhealthy.
• I want to ask you a question.

3. PARTICIPLE

are verb forms that act like adjectives.

can end in –ing, -d, -ed, -n, -en, nt
will come as close as they can to the noun they modify
can come BEFORE or AFTER the noun it modifies

Examples:
• The frowning clown fell down. (article/ adj./noun)
• The clown, frowning at the crowd, fell down.
• Frowning at the crowd, the clown fell down.