Verbal Phrases
When a verb does not function as a verb in a sentence, it is called a verbal. Verbals are usually used in phrases. There are three kinds of verbal phrases: gerund, participial, and infinitive.
A gerund phrase consists of an -ing form of a verb (brewing, flying, joking, studying) with any modifier(s) and/ or object(s). A gerund phrase always functions as a noun in a sentence. It can, therefore, serve as a subject, a predicate noun, a direct object, an indirect object, or an object of a preposition in a sentence.
All this fancy cooking takes time. [S]
Rick’s main recreation is lifting weights. [PN]
I believe in telling the truth. [OP]
A participial phrase consists of a present participle (-ing form of a verb) or past participle t-ed form of a verb) with its auxiliary, modifier(s), object(s), and complement(s). A participial phrase always functions as an adjective in a sentence.
The girl riding the mountain bike is my cousin. [ADJ]
Having finished his work for the day: the carpenter put his tools away and went home. [ADJ]
An infinitive phrase consists of the word to and the base form of the verb (stop, attempt, march, liberate) with its modifier(s) and object(s), if any. An infinitive phrase can function as an adjective! an adverb! or a noun in a sentence.
These are the shoes to wear for golf. [ADJ]
Sam couldn’t wait to eat his ice cream. [ADV]
Kristin and Benny love to rollerblade. [N]
