Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

What are participles?

• Words derived from nouns

• Words derived from verbs that act as adjectives or adverbs

• Words derived from adjectives

• Words derived from adverbs.

Fill in the blank: Participle phrases contain a participle (ed or ing- word that looks like a verb, but functions as a ______) and the words that complete its meaning.

• noun

• adjective

• adverb

• modifier

Which of the following sentences contains a participle phrase?

• The cat slept on the mat.

• Running quickly, the athlete won the race.

• She is reading a book.

• The sun is shining.

Identify the participle in the following sentence: The haunted house was scary.

• haunted

• house

• scary

• was

Fill in the blank: The main verb in an infinitive phrase is always in the ______ form.

• base

• present

• future

• past

The phrase in bold letters is a(n) _______.

To be sure, Mary is the most efficient person in her department.

• gerund phrase

• infinitive phrase

• participial phrase

The phrase in bold letters is a(n) _______.

The supervisor wanted to complete the job by five o'clock.

• gerund phrase

• infinitive phrase

• participial phrase

Identify the gerund: Loving you is a losing game.

("Loving You Is a Losing Game" by Duncan Laurence)

Identify the gerund: Why do I tire of counting sheep?

("Fireflies" by Owl City)

Identify the infinitive: I want to break free.

("I Want to Break Free" by Queen)