Verbals Notes PDF

A misplaced participial phrase is a participial phrase that is closer to some other noun than the noun it modifies. A dangling participial phrase does not logically modify any of the words in the sentence. When a participial phrase begins a sentence, a comma should be placed after the phrase....

A misplaced participial phrase is a participial phrase that is closer to some other noun than the noun it modifies. A dangling participial phrase does not logically modify any of the words in the sentence. When a participial phrase begins a sentence, a comma should be placed after the phrase. ​ Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed. ​ Washing and polishing the car, Frank developed sore muscles.  Gerunds and Participles Recognize a gerund when you see one. Every gerund, without exception, ends in ing. Gerunds are not, however, all that easy to identify. The problem is that all present participles also end in ing. What is the difference? Gerunds function as nouns. Thus, gerunds will be subjects, subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. Present participles, on the other hand, act as modifiers. Read these examples of gerunds: Since Francisco was five years old, swimming has been his passion. Swimming = subject of the verb has been. Francisco's first love is swimming. Swimming = subject complement of the verb is. Francisco enjoys swimming more than spending time with his girlfriend Diana. Swimming = direct object of the verb enjoys. Francisco gives swimming all of his energy and time. Swimming = indirect object of the verb gives. When Francisco wore dive fins to class, everyone knew that he was devoted to swimming. Swimming = object of the preposition to. These -ing words are examples of present participles: A great white shark ate Francisco's swimming coach. Swimming = present participle modifying coach. Now Francisco practices his sport in safe swimming pools. Swimming = present participle modifying pools. *Click here for more extensive information on bare infinitives - infinitives with the to omitted.  Bare Infinitives Infinitives used without the marker to are called bare infinitives. Uses of Bare Infinitives: A.​ After certain helping verbs Infinitives are used without to after the helping verbs will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might, do, did, must, need and dare. I will come. He may come. We shall wait. We must respect our parents and teachers. I can knit. You need not wait. We should go. Note that the helping verbs dare and need can also be used as main verbs. When they are used as main verbs, they are followed by to-infinitives. Do I need to wait? He didn’t dare to refuse. B.​ After certain main verbs Infinitives are used without to after the main verbs bid, watch, see, let, make, help, and hear. Let them come. Help him lift that bag. I saw him do it. We heard her sing. They made me cry. C.​ After rather, better, had better Infinitives are used without to after rather, better and had better. I would rather wait. Better do this again. You had better ask his permission. I would rather die than give up. D.​ After some prepositions Infinitives are used without to after except, but, save, and than. She can do everything but cook. She did nothing but cry. Note that in many cases bare infinitives can be re-written as to-infinitives. I can cook. = I am able to cook. I bade him come. = I asked him to come. Let them come. = Allow them to come. I must go now. = I ought to go now. I will kill him. = I am determined to kill him.  Verbals Hint Sheet Participles ♦​ Does it end in the regular endings“-ing” or “-ed,” or an irregular ending (must be yes) ♦​ Is it the action the subject is performing in the sentence? (must be no) ♦​ Is it used as an adjective? (must be yes) ▪​ Remove the participle or participial phrase from the sentence. ▪​ Do you know less about a noun or pronoun in the sentence? Gerunds ♦​ Does it end in “-ing” (must be yes) ♦​ Is it the action the subject is performing in the sentence? (must be no) ♦​ Is it used as a noun? (must be yes) ▪​ Remove the gerund or gerund phrase from the sentence. ​ Is the sentence missing a ​ subject; ​ direct object; ​ indirect object; ​ predicate nominative; ​ object of a preposition? ​ Try to replace with pronoun like “it,” “this,” or “something” – is the sentence grammatically correct? Infinitives ♦​ Does it consist of “to” followed by a verb form? (must be yes, usually - bare infinitives) ♦​ Is it used as a noun? ▪​ Remove the infinitive or infinitive phrase from the sentence. ​ Is the sentence missing a ​ subject; ​ direct object; ​ indirect object; ​ predicate nominative; ​ object of a preposition? ​ Try to replace with pronoun like “it,” “this,” or “something” – is the sentence grammatically correct? ♦​ Or, is it used as an adjective? ▪​ Remove the infinitive or infinitive phrase from the sentence. ​ Do you know less about a noun or pronoun in the sentence? ♦​ Or, is it used as an adverb? (must be yes) ▪​ Remove the infinitive or infinitive phrase from the sentence. ​ Do you know less about a verb, adjective, or adverb in the sentence?