Loading ...Verbal Phrase
Verbal Phrase
Verbal Phrases are made up of a verbal (participle, gerund or infinitive) and its related object and modifiers.
Gerund – verb ending in ‘ing’ and used as nouns.
Example: Writing well isn’t always easy. (‘Writing well’ is a verbal phrase and ‘Writing’ is used as a gerund.)
Participle – used as adjective to modify a noun or pronoun. Most verbs have a present participle (ending in ‘ing’) and a past participle (ending in ‘d’ or ‘ed’). running shoe; crowded bus.
Example: Wading through numerous journal articles, I reviewed the most recent research on cognitive development of adolescents. (Wading through numerous journal articles’ is a present participle phrase modifying the pronoun ‘I’.)
Infinitive – can be used as an adjective, adverb or noun. It is composed of a verb preceded by the word ‘to’.
Example: To write concisely is a real challenge. (‘To write concisely’ is an infinitive phrase acting as subject of the sentence.)
Example: Betty was the first person in her family to attend college. (‘To attend college’ is an infinitive phrase that serves as an adjective modifying the noun ‘person’.)
Example: Only one question on the Math 101 Test was too difficult for me to solve. (‘To solve’ is an infinitive phrase that serves as an adverb modifying the adjective ‘difficult’.)
- Enter the verbal phrases
- Indicate the type of verbal
- Indicate the part of speech of the verbal
- Select the word modified where it applies
1. He injured his elbow playing tennis because he refused to take lessons.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
2. All the teams in our Junior Hockey League are so strong that it is almost impossible for a team to win every game.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
3. Do not interrupt meetings by taking cell phone calls because they interfere with the work of the committee.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
4. Since diving is a favorite American sport, both American champions will compete in the Olympics.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
5. Surprised by the news from my daughter, I left work early yesterday.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
- The good news from my daughter was that she plans to register in a Ph. D. program in Physics.
6. The good news from my daughter was that she plans to register in a Ph. D. program in Physics.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
7. One of the most fascinating cities of the world to visit is New York.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
8. I wear my old running shoes to work in the garden.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
9. My brother uses the sky train to commute to work every day.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
10. Every morning I have to take the crowded sea-bus.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
11. The doctor recommended walking every day as the preferred form of exercise for his heart patients..
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
12. Accomplishing difficult tasks every day is very satisfying to most people.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
13. The park warden proceeded with great caution as he tracked down the wounded black bear.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
14. Although he refused to take lessons, he learned to play tennis well.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
15. Sleeping eight hours a night is recommended for adults of all ages.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
16. The unknown was the most frightening part of that dangerous voyage.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
17. The confused tourists took a wrong turn in the road when they left the city to visit a rural shrine.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
18. The local merchants were reluctant to speak up on the issue for fear of reprisals.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
19. The President of our company works eighteen hours a day when the going gets tough.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
20. The dissatisfied customer took his complaint to the manager.
| Verbal phrases | Verbal: gerund, participle or infinitive | Part of speech: adjective, adverb or noun | Word modified |
Verbal Phrase
1. He injured his elbow playing tennis because he refused to take lessons.
Answer– Gerund – playing
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – He
Answer– Infinitive – to take
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
2. All the teams in our Junior Hockey League are so strong that it is almost impossible for a team to win every game.
Answer – Infinitive – to win
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
3. Do not interrupt meetings by taking cell phone calls because they interfere with the work of the committee.
Answer– Gerund – taking
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
4. Since high tower diving is a favorite American sport, it is attracting many athletes.
Answer– Gerund – diving
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
5. Surprised by the news from my daughter, I left work early yesterday.
Answer – Participle - surprised
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – I
6. The good news from my daughter was that she plans to register in a Ph. D. program in Physics.
Answer – Infinitive – to register
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
7. One of the most fascinating cities of the world to visit is New York.
Answer – Infinitive – to visit
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – cities
8. I wear my old running shoes to work in the garden.
Answer – Participle - running
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – shoes
9. My brother uses the sky train to commute to work every day.
Answer – Infinitive - to commute
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – brother
10. Every morning I have to take the crowded sea-bus to work.
Answer – Participle – crowded
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified - sea-bus
11. The doctor recommended walking every day as the preferred form of exercise for his heart patients..
Answer – Gerund – walking
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
12. Accomplishing difficult tasks every day is very satisfying to most people.
Answer – Gerund - Accomplishing
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
13. The park warden proceeded with great caution as he tracked down the wounded black bear.
Answer – Participle – wounded
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – bear
14. Although he refused to take lessons, he learned to play tennis well.
Answer – Infinitive - to take
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
Answer – Infinitive – to play
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
15. Sleeping eight hours a night is recommended for adults of all ages.
Answer – Gerund – Sleeping
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
16. The unknown was the most frightening part of that dangerous voyage.
Answer – Participle – frightening
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – part
17. Confused , the tourists left the city to visit a rural shrine.
Answer – Participle - confused
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – tourists
Answer – Infinitive – to visit
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – tourists
18. The local merchants were reluctant to speak up on the issue for fear of reprisals.
Answer – Infinitive – to speak up
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – merchants
19. The President of our company works eighteen hours a day when the going gets tough.
Answer – Gerund – going
Parts of speech – noun
Word modified -
20. Dissatisfied, the customer took his complaint to the manager.
Answer – Participle – dissatisfied
Parts of speech – adjective
Word modified – customer
