The Function of Verbals

A __ is a verbal that most often ends in -ing or -ed and acts as an adjective.

• Gerund

• Participle

• Infinitive

A __ is a verbal that ends in -ing and acts as a noun.

• Gerund

• Participle

• Infinitive

An __ is a verbal consisting of the word "to" plus a verb.

• Gerund

• Participle

• Infinitive

Identify the participle(s).

Marsha smiled sadly at the wilting flower.

• smiled

• wilting

• smiled, wilting

Identify the infinitive.

Mrs. Jackson wants to swim.

• to swim

• Mrs. Jackson wants

• wants to

• wants swim

Identify the gerund(s).

Ethan narrowly avoided driving off the cliff.

• narrowly

• driving

• Ethan

• cliff

Identify the gerund(s).

I'm thinking of painting my house.

• I'm

• thinking

• painting

• house

Identify the Infinitive.

When I play racquetball, I play to win.

• I play

• when I play

• to win

• I play to win

Identify the participle(s).

The cascading waterfall poured down over the rocks.

• waterfall

• rocks

• over

• cascading

Identify the gerund(s).

Swimming is good exercise.

• Swimming

• is

• good

• exercise.