Instructions: Find the adjective dependent clause in the following sentences and tell which word it modifies.

1. The singer that you see on stage is my sister.

2. The owner is a woman by whom many things have been accomplished.

3. The teacher who gives the girls piano lessons lives next door.

4. The man whose leg was broken was taken to the hospital.

5. This is the place where the Donner Party perished.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The singer that you see on stage is my sister.

- that you see on stage modifies singer

2. The owner is a woman by whom many things have been accomplished.

- by whom many things have been accomplished modifies woman

3. The teacher who gives the girls piano lessons lives next door.

- who gives the girls piano lessons modifies teacher

4. The man whose leg was broken was taken to the hospital.

- whose leg was broken modifies man

5. This is the place where the Donner Party perished.

- where the Donner Party perished modifies place

Next Lesson

A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause (which can stand alone and make sense) and a dependent clause (which must be attached to the independent clause to make sense). 

 

Example: 

The television was playing (independent clause) as I left the room (dependent clause). 

 

There are three kinds of dependent clauses: adjective clause, adverb clause, and noun clause.

The adjective clause is used to modify a noun or a pronoun. It will begin with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, and that) or a subordinate conjunction (when and where). Those are the only words that can be used to introduce an adjective clause. The introductory word will always rename the word that it follows and modifies except when used with a preposition which will come between the introductory word and the word it renames. 

 

Examples: 

The student whose hand was up gave the wrong answer. (adjective clause)

Jane is a person in whom I can place my confidence. (adjective clause)

Instructions: Find the adjective dependent clause in the following sentences and tell which word it modifies.

1. I play a kind of music that nobody likes.

2. The man whom you saw was not the famous actor.

3. I remember the day when I took my first airplane ride.

4. I have a neighbor whose parents live in Australia.

5. The hint that I learned about cleaning the walk saved me much work.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I play a kind of music that nobody likes.

- that nobody likes modifies either kind or music (a prepositional phrase can separate the introductory word from the word it modifies)

2. The man whom you saw was not the famous actor.

- whom you saw modifies man

3. I remember the day when I took my first airplane ride.

- when I took my first airplane ride modifies day

4. I have a neighbor whose parents live in Australia.

- whose parents live in Australia modifies neighbor

5. The hint that I learned about cleaning the walk saved me much work.

- that I learned about cleaning the walk modifies hint

Next Lesson

Instructions: Tell whether the words in quotation marks are independent clauses, dependent clauses, prepositional phrases, participial phrases, gerund phrases, or infinitive phrases.

1. Do not leave for help "until I signal you."

2. "Here are the plants" that you wanted.

3. I remained "staring at the damage" when help arrived.

4. "Having learned the outcome," I was at a loss "to know what to do."

5. The neighbors stared "at me" in unbelief.

Instructions: Combine the following sentences with the appropriate co-ordinate conjunctions.

6. I turned on my radio. There was no sound.

7. The storm had ended. The sun peeked out from the clouds.

8. I did not attend the meeting. John didn't either.

9. You must leave soon. You will be late for class.

10. A phrase has neither a verb nor a subject. The clause has both.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. until I signal you = dependent clause

2. Here are the plants = independent clause

3. staring at the damage = participial phrase

4. Having learned the outcome = participial phrase, to know what to do = infinitive phrase

5. at me = prepositional phrase

6. I turned on the radio, but there was no sound.

7. The storm had ended, and the sun peeked out from the clouds.

8. I did not attend the meeting, nor did John.

9. You must leave soon, or you will be late for class.

10. A phrase has neither a verb nor a subject, but the clause has both.

Next Lesson

 

A clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is always used as some part of speech. It can be an adjective, adverb, or noun. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Instructions: Tell whether the words in quotation marks are independent clauses, dependent clauses, prepositional phrases, participial phrases, gerund phrases, or infinitive phrases.

1. "When I received the email," I knew it was "not to be opened."

2. When you go to the store, "buy some ice cream and cookies."

3. The vase must have been broken "by the grandchildren."

4. "Having been left alone," the boy jumped at every noise.

5. "Planning a successful wedding" requires lots of work.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. When I received the email = dependent clause, not to be opened = infinitive phrase

2. buy some ice cream and cookies = independent clause

3. by the grandchildren = prepositional phrase

4. Having been left alone = participial phrase

5. Planning a successful wedding = gerund phrase

Next Lesson

Do not confuse a compound sentence with a simple sentence having compound parts. Both sides of the conjunction will have a subject and a verb in a compound sentence.

 

Example: 

Mother baked a cake and I frosted it.

Instructions: Tell whether the following sentences are compound sentences or not. If they are not, tell which compound part they are.

1. The girl just sat there but said nothing.

2. I looked for the book, but I could not find it.

3. Jeff must have arrived safely, or we would have been notified.

4. One of my friends and his dad have flown to Brazil.

5. Everyone was playing or swimming in the pool.

6. Suddenly the rain poured down, and the party was ruined.

7. We will vacation in the Black Hills or at Waterton.

8. I haven't heard from Becky, nor do I expect a call soon.

9. I climbed the tree and looked in the bird's nest.

10. She planned to read the letter, but it could not be found.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The girl just sat there but said nothing.

- compound verb

2. I looked for the book, but I could not find it.

- compound sentence

3. Jeff must have arrived safely, or we would have been notified.

- compound sentence

4. One of my friends and his dad have flown to Brazil.

- compound subject

5. Everyone was playing or swimming in the pool.

- compound verb

6. Suddenly the rain poured down, and the party was ruined.

- compound sentence

7. We will vacation in the Black Hills or at Waterton.

- compound object of the preposition

8. I haven't heard from Becky, nor do I expect a call soon.

- compound sentence

9. I climbed the tree and looked in the bird's nest.

- compound verb

10. She planned to read the letter, but it could not be found.

- compound sentence

Next Lesson

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

 

A clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is always used as some part of speech. It can be an adjective, adverb, or noun. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

The conjunction should express the proper relationship between the clauses. And joins ideas of equal importance. Or joins clauses that express alternatives. Nor joins negative ideas together. But joins clauses that express contrasting ideas.

Instructions: Combine the following sentences using the appropriate co-ordinate conjunctions, and, but, or, and nor.

1. Mother wanted to watch the movie. Dad wanted to see the wrestling.

2. You must remember your password. You cannot log on.

3. I wanted to walk across the river. The ice was too thin.

4. It was a warm, beautiful day. My desires matched the day perfectly.

5. You did not help your brother. He doesn't expect you to help him.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Mother wanted to watch the movie, but Dad wanted to see the wrestling.

2. You must remember your password, or you cannot log on.

3. I wanted to walk across the river, but the ice was too thin.

4. It was a warm, beautiful day, and my desires matched the day perfectly.

5. You did not help your brother, nor does he expect you to do so.

Next Lesson

 

A clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is always used as some part of speech. It can be an adjective, adverb, or noun. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Instructions: Tell if the following sentences are good combinations.

1. Mr. Jones is a very short man, but he walks with an air of authority.

2. Today has been very warm, and I have some English lessons to write.

3. I have again been to Mexico, but I don't expect to return soon.

4. My dog is a short, stupid-looking dog, but he is very smart.

5. The mail comes about noon each day, and I need to weed the flowers.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. a good combination

2. a poor combination

3. a good combination

4. a good combination

5. a poor combination

Next Lesson

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

A clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is always used as some part of speech. It can be an adjective, adverb, or noun. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

A phrase is a group of words used as a sentence part. It does not have a subject and a verb. It can be a noun, adjective, or adverb. We have studied the following phrases: prepositional, gerund, participial, and infinitive.

A compound sentence combines two or more independent clauses. Commas separate the clauses of a compound sentence. (A short sentence joined by and is sometimes combined without a comma.)  A semicolon can take the place of the conjunction and comma. Only clauses closely related in thought should be joined to make a compound sentence.

 

Example: 

She talks and he listens.

Instructions: Tell whether each group of words is a clause or a phrase.

1. Before the gate broke

2. After having eaten

3. In answer to your question

4. How I will mark the reports

5. Made of sweat and blood

6. Upon whom the blame lies

7. By remaining totally still

8. Why did you stop

9. After everyone ceased shouting

10. To take me home

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. clause

2. phrase

3. phrase

4. clause

5. phrase

6. clause

7. phrase

8. clause

9. clause

10. phrase

Next Lesson

Instructions: Using all the knowledge learned in the previous lessons, find the verbs (v), subjects (subj), predicate nominatives (pn), direct objects (do), appositives (app), nouns of address (na), adjectives (adj), predicate adjectives (pa), adverbs (adv), prepositions (prep), objects of the preposition (op), prepositional phrases (p ph), indirect objects (io), objective complements (oc), conjunctions (c), and verbals in the following sentences.

 

If the word is a verbal, tell whether it is a gerund, participle, noun infinitive, adjective infinitive, or adverb infinitive.  If there are any adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, verbals, or verbal phrases then tell what word they modify.

 

Example: 

1. Are you too important to help the poor?

2. The crying child had upset everyone in the room.

3. He jumped across the gap without knowing the distance.

4. Exercising is good for everyone.

5. Jeff loves to dance constantly.

6. Teasing by your friends is hard to take.

7. Fearing reprisal, the people fled from the city.

8. Eating out is the thing to do tonight.

9. I don't know whether to tell him or to keep quiet.

10. Our next job, to run to the store, should be done quickly.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. are - v; you - subj; important - pa modifying you; too - adv modifying important; to help - vbl (adverb infinitive); to help the poor - adverb infinitive phrase modifying important; poor - do to to help; the - adj modifying poor

2. had upset - v; child - subj; the - adj modifying child; crying - vbl (participle) modifying child; everyone - do; in - prep; room - op; the - adj modifying room; in the room - p ph modifying everyone

3. jumped - v; he - subj; across - prep; gap - op; the - adj modifying gap; across the gap - p ph modifying jumped; without knowing the distance - p ph modifying jumped; without - prep; knowing - vbl (gerund); knowing the distance - gerund phrase used as the object of the preposition; distance - do to knowing; the - adj modifying distance

4. is - verb; exercising - vbl (gerund) used as the subject; good - pa modifying exercising; for - prep; everyone - op; for everyone - p ph modifying good

5. loves - v; Jeff - subj; to dance - vbl (noun infinitive); to dance constantly - noun infinitive phrase used as a direct object; constantly - adv modifying to dance

6. is - v; teasing - vbl (gerund); teasing by your friends - gerund phrase used as the subject; by your friends - p ph modifying teasing; by - prep; friends - op; your - adj modifying friends; hard - pa modifying teasing; to take - vbl (adverb infinitive) modifying hard

7. fled - v; people - subj; the - adj modifying people; fearing - (vbl) participal; fearing reprisal - participial phrase modifying people; reprisal - do to fearing; from - prep; city - op; the - adj modifying city; from the city - p ph modifying fled

 

8. is - v; eating - vbl (gerund); eating out - gerund phrase used as a subject; out - adv modifying eating; thing - pn; the - adj modifying thing; to do - vbl (adjective infinitive); to do tonight - adjective infinitive phrase modifying thing; tonight - adv modifying to do

9. do know - v; I = subj; n't - adv modifying do know; whether/or - correlative conjunction; to tell/to keep - vbl (noun infinitive); to tell him/to keep quiet - noun infinitive phrases used as direct objects; him - do to to tell; quiet - adv modifying to keep

10. should be done - v; job = subj; our/next = adj modifying job; to run - vbl (noun infinitive); to run to the store - noun infinitive phrase used as an appositive; to - prep; store - op; the - adj modifying store; to the store - p ph modifying to run; quickly - adv modifying should be done

 

1. The rules are hard to remember.

2. Carl hopes to have enough time this week.

3. The President favors spending more money for welfare.

4. The destroyed room left no clues for the police.

5. I saw her trying to save the drowning cat.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. are - v; rules - subj; the - adj modifying rules; hard - pa modifying rules; to remember - vbl (adverb infinitive) modifying hard

2. hopes - v; Carl - subj; to have - vbl (noun infinitive); to have enough time this week - noun infinitive phrase used as a direct object; time - do to to have; enough - adj modifying time; week - adv modifying to have; this - adj modifying week

3. favors - v; President - subj; the - adj modifying President; spending - vbl (gerund); spending more money for welfare - gerund phrase used as direct object, money - do to spending; more - adj modifying money; for - prep; welfare - op; for welfare = p ph modifying spending

4. left - v; room - subj; the - adj modifying room; destroyed - vbl (participle) modifying room; clues - do, no - adj modifying clues; for - prep; police - op; the - adj modifying police; for the police -
p ph modifying clues

5. saw - v; I - subj; her - do; trying - vbl (participle) used as an object compliment; to save - vbl (noun infinitive); to save the drowning cat - noun infinitive phrase used as a direct object to trying; cat - do to to save; the - adj modifying cat; drowning - vbl (participle) modifying cat

Next Lesson

Instructions: Using all the knowledge learned in the previous lessons, find the verbs (v), subjects (subj), predicate nominatives (pn), direct objects (do), appositives (app), nouns of address (na), adjectives (adj), predicate adjectives (pa), adverbs (adv), prepositions (prep), objects of the preposition (op), prepositional phrases (p ph), indirect objects (io), objective complements (oc), conjunctions (c), and verbals in the following sentences.

 

If the word is a verbal, tell whether it is a gerund, participle, noun infinitive, adjective infinitive, or adverb infinitive.  If there are any adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, verbals, or verbal phrases then tell what word they modify.

 

Example: 

1. The ricocheting car flew through the wall of the house.

2. Go to the thesaurus to find a better word.

3. This computer program is difficult to understand and follow.

4. Have you tried writing a letter to him?

5. Harold's chief interests are gambling and spending money.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. flew = verb, car = subject, the = adjective modifying car, ricocheting = participle modifying car, through the wall = prepositional phrase modifying flew, through = preposition, wall = object of the preposition, the = adjective modifying wall, of the house = prepositional phrase modifying wall, of = preposition, house = object of the preposition, the = adjective modifying house

2. go = verb, (you) = subject, to the thesaurus = prepositional phrase modifying go, to = preposition, thesaurus = object of the preposition, the = adjective modifying thesaurus, to find a better word = adverb infinitive phrase modifying go, word = direct object to the verbal to find, a/better = adjectives modifying word

3. is = verb, program = subject, this/computer = adjectives modifying program, difficult = predicate adjective modifying program, to understand/(to) follow = adverb infinitives modifying difficult, and = conjunction

4. have tried = verb, you = subject, writing a letter to him = gerund phrase used as direct object, letter = direct object to the verbal writing, a = adjective modifying letter, to him = prepositional phrase modifying writing, to = preposition, him = object of the preposition

5. are = verb, interests = subject, Harold's/chief = adjectives modifying interests, gambling/spending money = gerund and a gerund phrase used as predicate nominatives, money = direct object to verbal spending, and = conjunction

Next Lesson

1. Blaming others is a coward's way to feel better.

2. We do not plan to change the landscape.

3. Keeping his promise, Jim was there to help.

4. I am too old to learn to ski.

5. One way to lose weight is to exercise.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. is - v; blaming others - gerund phrase used as subject; blaming - vbl (gerund); others - do to blaming; way - pn; a/coward's - adj modifying way; to feel - vbl (adv infinitive); to feel better - adj infinitive phrase modifying way; better - pa modifying to feel

2. do plan - v; we - subj; not - adv modifying do plan; to change - vbl (noun infinitive); to change the landscape - noun infinitive phrase used as a direct object; landscape - do to to change; the - adj modifying landscape

3. was - v; Jim - subj; keeping - vbl (participle); keeping his promise - participial phrase modifying Jim; promise - do to keeping; his - adj modifying promise; there - adv modifying was; to help - vbl
(adverb infinitive) modifying was

4. am - v; I - subj; old - pa modifying am; too - adv modifying old; to learn - vbl (adv infinitive); to learn to ski - adverb infinitive phrase modifying old; to ski - vbl (noun infinitive) used as the direct
object to to learn

5. is - v; way - subj; one - adj modifying way; to lose - vbl (adj infinitive); to lose weight - adj infinite phrase modifying way; weight - do to to lose; to exercise - vbl (noun infinitive) used as the predicate nominative

Next Lesson

Instructions: Using all the knowledge learned in the previous lessons, find the verbs (v), subjects (subj), predicate nominatives (pn), direct objects (do), appositives (app), nouns of address (na), adjectives (adj), predicate adjectives (pa), adverbs (adv), prepositions (prep), objects of the preposition (op), prepositional phrases (p ph), indirect objects (io), objective complements (oc), conjunctions (c), and verbals in the following sentences.

1. Do you have a car to rent?

2. Flags hung too high are hard to take down.

3. Your moaning and groaning will not make things easier.

4. You know my problem, hating too many foods.

5. To decorate for the wedding will cost a great deal.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. do have - v; you - subj; car - do; a - adj modifying car; to rent - vbl (adverb infinitive) modifying do have

2. are - v; flags - subj; hung - vbl (participle); hung too high - participial phrase modifying flags; high - adv modifying hung; too - adv modifying high; hard - pa modifying flags; to take - vbl (adv infinitive); to take down - adv infinitive phrase modifying hard; down - adv modifying to take

3. will make - v; moaning/groaning - vbl (gerunds) used as subjects; your - adj modifying moaning/groaning; not - adv modifying will make; things - do; easier - oc modifying things; and - c

4. know - v; you - subj; problem - do; my - adj modifying problem; hating - vbl (gerunds); hating too many foods - gerund phrase used as appositive; foods - do; many - adj modifying foods; too - adv
modifying many

5. will cost - v; to decorate for the wedding - noun infinitive phrase used as a subject; to decorate - vbl (noun infinitive); for - prep; wedding - op; for the wedding - prepositional phrase modifying to
decorate; the - adj modifying wedding; deal - do; a/great - adj modifying deal

Next Lesson

Instructions: Using all the knowledge learned in the previous lessons, find the verbs (v), subjects (subj), predicate nominatives (pn), direct objects (do), appositives (app), nouns of address (na), adjectives (adj), predicate adjectives (pa), adverbs (adv), prepositions (prep), objects of the preposition (op), prepositional phrases (p ph), indirect objects (io), objective complements (oc), conjunctions (c), and verbals in the following sentences.

 

If the word is a verbal, tell whether it is a gerund, participle, noun infinitive, adjective infinitive, or adverb infinitive.  If there are any adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, verbals, or verbal phrases then tell what word they modify.

 

Example: 

1. I finally bought me a hearing aid to hear better.

2. Sometimes I just need to try again.

3. Having decided definitely, he stepped onto the train to leave home.

4. The person winning the lottery will have a different life.

5. You can only reach our place by crossing the river.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. bought - v; I - subj; finally - adv modifying bought; me - io; hearing aid - do; a - adj modifying hearing aid; to hear - vbl (adv infinitive); to hear better - adv infinitive phrase modifying bought; better - adv modifying to hear

2. need - v; I - subj; sometimes/just - adv modifying need; to try - vbl (noun infinitive); to try again - noun infinitive phrase used as the direct object; again - adv modifying to try

3. stepped - v; he - subj; having decided - vbl (participle); having decided definitely - participial phrase modifying he; definitely - adv modifying having decided; onto - prep; train - op; onto the train - prepositional phase modifying stepped; the - adj modifying train; to leave - vbl (adv infinitive); to leave home - adv infinitive phrase modifying stepped; home - adv modifying to leave

4. will have - v; person - subj; the - adj modifying person; winning - vbl (participle); lottery - do to winning; winning the lottery - participial phrase modifying person; the - adj modifying lottery; life - do; a/different - adj modifying life

5. can reach - v; you - subj; only - adv modifying can reach; place - do; our - adj modifying place; by crossing the river - prepositional phrase modifying can reach; by - prep; crossing - vbl (gerund); crossing the river - op (gerund phrase); river - do to crossing; the - adj modifying river

Next Lesson

Instructions: Find the gerunds, gerund phrases, participles, participial phrases, infinitives, or infinitive phrases in these sentences, tell what kind of verbal they are, and how they are used.

1. Are you too busy to help us?

2. The crying child rushed to his mother.

3. He jumped from the cliff without looking down.

4. Walking is good for everyone.

5. Jim loves to play basketball.

6. Correction by others is hard to take.

7. Fearing their enemies, many small animals are nocturnal.

8. Law and Order is the program to watch tonight.

9. I don't know whether to go or to stay.

10. Our next job, to finish the painting, should be easy.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Are you too busy to help us?

- to help us (adverb infinitive phrase) modifying the predicate adjective busy

2. The crying child rushed to his mother.

- crying (participle) modifying the subject child

3. He jumped from the cliff without looking down.

- looking down (gerund phrase) used as the object of the preposition without

4. Walking is good for everyone.

- Walking (gerund) used as the subject

5. Jim loves to play basketball.

- to play basketball (noun infinitive phrase) used as the direct object

6. Correction by others is hard to take.

- to take (adverb infinitive) modifying the predicate adjective hard

7. Fearing their enemies, many small animals are nocturnal.

- Fearing their enemies (participial phrase) modifying the subject animals

8. Law and Order is the program to watch tonight.

- to watch tonight (adjective infinitive phrase) modifying the predicate nominative program

9. I don't know whether to go or to stay.

- to go/to stay (noun infinitives) used as direct objects

10. Our next job, to finish the painting, should be easy.

- to finish the painting (noun infinitive) used as an appositive

- painting (gerund) used as the direct object to the verbal to finish

Next Lesson

A verbal is a verb form used as some other part of speech. There are three kinds of verbals: gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

A gerund always ends in ing and is used as a noun. 

 

Example: 

Eating is fun.

A participle is used as an adjective and ends various ways. A present participle always ends with ing as does the gerund, but remember that it is an adjective. A past participle ends with ed, n, or irregularly.  

 

Examples: 

played, broken, brought, sung, seeing, having seen, being seen, seen, having been seen

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. 

 

Examples: 

to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten

Instructions: Find the gerunds, gerund phrases, participles, participial phrases, infinitives, or infinitive phrases in these sentences, tell what kind of verbal they are, and how they are used.

1. You are difficult to understand.

2. Jack hopes to join the Army next month.

3. The Senate favors increasing taxes.

4. The broken lamp lay on the floor.

5. I saw him trying to open the trunk.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. You are difficult to understand.

- to understand (adverb infinitive) modifying the predicate adjective difficult

2. Jack hopes to join the Army next month.

- to join the Army next month (noun infinitive phrase) used as the direct object

3. The Senate favors increasing taxes.

- increasing taxes (gerund phrase) used as the direct object

4. The broken lamp lay on the floor.

- broken (participle) modifying the subject lamp

5. I saw him trying to open the trunk.

- trying to open the trunk (participial phrase) modifying the direct object him

- to open the trunk (noun infinitive phrase) used as the direct object to the verbal trying

Next Lesson

1. The glancing blow did little damage.

2. Go to the dictionary to look for the answer.

3. This computer game is easy to play and to understand.

4. Have you tried writing it down daily?

5. His chief interests are skiing and racing.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The glancing blow did little damage.

- glancing (participle) modifying the subject blow

2. Go to the dictionary to look for the answer.

- to look for the answer (adverb infinitive phrase) modifying the verb go

3. This computer game is easy to play and to understand.

- to play/to understand (adverb infinitives) modifying the predicate adjective easy

4. Have you tried writing it down daily?

- writing it down daily (gerund phrase) used as the direct object

5. His chief interests are skiing and racing.

- skiing/racing (gerunds) used as predicate nominatives

Next Lesson

1. Blaming others is not being honest with oneself.

2. We do not plan to change the rules.

3. Forgetting his promise, Jeff returned home late.

4. My dog is too old to learn new tricks.

5. One way to improve is regular practice.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Blaming others is not being honest with oneself.

- Blaming others (gerund phrase) used as the subject

- to change the rules (noun infinitive phrase) used as the direct object

3. Forgetting his promise, Jeff returned home late.

- Forgetting his promise (participial phrase) modifying the subject Jeff

4. My dog is too old to learn new tricks.

- to learn new tricks (adverb infinitive phrase) modifying the predicate adjective old

5. One way to improve is regular practice.

- to improve (adjective infinitive) modifying the subject way

Next Lesson

1. Signs hung too high can't be read.

2. You know my weakness, eating late at night.

3. Your weeping and wailing will not change a thing.

4. To decorate for the dance will cost too much.

5. Do you have a book to read?

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

- hung too high (participial phrase) modifying the subject Signs

2. You know my weakness, eating late at night.

- eating late at night (gerund phrase) used as an appositive

3. Your weeping and wailing will not change a thing.

- weeping/wailing (gerunds) used as subjects

4. To decorate for the dance will cost too much.

- to decorate for the dance (noun infinitive phrase) used as the subject

5. Do you have a book to read?

- to read (adverb infinitive) modifying the verb Do have

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A verbal is a verb form used as some other part of speech. There are three kinds of verbals: gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

A gerund always ends in ing and is used as a noun. 

 

Example: 

Eating is fun.

A participle is used as an adjective and ends various ways. A present participle always ends with ing as does the gerund, but remember that it is an adjective. A past participle ends with ed, n, or irregularly.  

 

Examples: 

played, broken, brought, sung, seeing, having seen, being seen, seen, having been seen

An infinitive is to plus a verb form. It can be a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. 

 

Examples: 

to be, to see, to be seen, to be eaten

Instructions: Find the gerunds, gerund phrases, participles, participial phrases, infinitives, or infinitive phrases in these sentences, tell what kind of verbal they are, and how they are used.

1. To see better, I got new glasses.

2. Sometimes I just need to do more.

3. Having changed his mind, he turned to go.

4. The team winning the match will be given new shirts.

5. You can go home only by crossing the street.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

- To see better (adverb infinitive phrase) modifying the verb got

2. Sometimes I just need to do more.

- to do more (noun infinitive phrase) used as the direct object

3. Having changed his mind, he turned to go.

- having changed his mind (participial phrase) modifying the subject he

- to go (adverb infinitive) modifying the verb turned

4. The team winning the match will be given new shirts.

- winning the match (participial phrase) modifying the subject team

5. You can go home only by crossing the street.

- crossing the street (gerund phrase) used as the object of the preposition

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