Challenge Your Grammar Skills

Verbal Phrases

A verbal phrase consists of a verbal and all of its modifiers and objects. Since verbals come from verbs, they take on all of the characteristics of verbs. And since verbals function as other parts of speech, they also take on the characteristics of those parts of speech.

Shopping at her favorite stores, Samantha spent her entire paycheck. (The bolded phrase is a participial phrase because it functions as an adjective modifying Samantha.)

Shopping on line is Samantha’s favorite pastime. (The bolded phrase is a gerund phrase because it functions as the subject of the sentence; it is, therefore, a noun.)

Samantha loves to shop for bargains. (The bolded phrase is an infinitive phrase because the word to precedes the verb. The infinitive is functioning as a direct object.)

Confidence Check

Print this page and then underline the verbal phrases in the following sentences. Identify each verbal phrase as a participial phrase, a gerund phrase, or an infinitive phrase. (You will find a link to the answers at the bottom of this page.)

1. Skiing in Vermont is my idea of relaxation.

2. Skiing down the icy slope, I fell and broke my leg.

3. To ski every winter in Colorado will get very expensive.

4. Having been chosen for the lead role, she suddenly developed severe stage fright.

5. Lending money to a friend is a sure way to end a friendship.

6. Knowing how to access the internet for information is a valuable skill.

7. He likes to ice skate with his partner at an ice dance competition, but his true love is to compete on the ice with his hockey team.

8. Convinced that he could win the election, he hired a campaign manager.

Click here to see the answers... AFTER you tried the confidence check on your own, of course.

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