42b Verbal phrases

A verbal is a verb form that does not function as the verb of a clause. Verbals include infinitives (the word to plus the base form of the verb), present participles (the -ing form of the verb), and past participles (the verb form usually ending in -d, -ed, -n, -en, or -t). (See 28a and 40c.)

INFINITIVE

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

PAST PARTICIPLE
to dream dreaming dreamed
to choose choosing chosen
to build building built
to grow growing grown

Instead of functioning as the verb of a clause, a verbal functions as an adjective, a noun, or an adverb.

ADJECTIVE

Broken promises cannot be fixed.

NOUN

Constant complaining becomes wearisome.

ADVERB

Can you wait to celebrate?

Verbals with objects, complements, or modifiers form verbal phrases.

In my family, singing loudly is more appreciated than singing well.

Governments exist to protect the rights of minorities.

Like verbals, verbal phrases function as adjectives, nouns, or adverbs. Verbal phrases are ordinarily classified as participial, gerund, and infinitive.

Participial phrases

Participial phrases always function as adjectives. Their verbals are either present participles (such as dreaming, asking) or past participles (such as stolen, reached).

Participial phrases frequently appear immediately following the noun or pronoun they modify.

An example reads, Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. An arrow from the words ‘abridging the freedom of speech or of the press’ points to law.

Participial phrases are often movable. They may precede the word they modify.

An example reads, Being a weight-bearing joint, the knee is among the most frequently injured. An arrow from the words ‘Being a weight-bearing joint’ points to knee.

They may also appear at some distance from the word they modify.

An example.

Gerund phrases

Gerund phrases are built around present participles (verb forms that end in -ing), and they always function as nouns: usually as subjects, subject complements, direct objects, or objects of a preposition.

Four examples.

Infinitive phrases

Infinitive phrases, usually constructed around to plus the base form of the verb (to call, to drink), can function as nouns, as adjectives, or as adverbs. When functioning as a noun, an infinitive phrase may appear in almost any noun slot in a sentence, usually as a subject, subject complement, or direct object.

Two examples.

Infinitive phrases functioning as adjectives usually appear immediately following the noun or pronoun they modify.

An example reads, The Nineteenth Amendment gave women the right to vote. An arrow from the words ‘to vote’ points to the word right.

The infinitive phrase modifies the noun right. Which right? The right to vote.

Adverbial infinitive phrases usually qualify the meaning of the verb, telling when, where, how, why, under what conditions, or to what degree an action occurred.

An example reads, Volunteers rolled up their pants to wade through the flood waters. An arrow from the words ‘to wade through the flood waters’ points to the words rolled up.

NOTE: In some constructions, the infinitive is unmarked; that is, the to does not appear.

Graphs and charts can help researchers [to] present complex data.