Phrases Containing Verbals

The participial phrase

A participial phrase begins with a past or present participle and is followed by its objects and modifiers. Like participles alone, participial phrases are used as adjectives.

• Sniffing the fresh air, Jim realized he had found paradise.

In the preceding sentence, the present participle sniffing introduces the participial phrase, which includes the participle's object (air) and its modifiers (the, fresh). This participial phrase acts as an adjective modifying the subject of the sentence (Jim).

• The soldiers, trapped by the enemy, threw down their guns.

Here, the past participle trapped introduces the participial phrase trapped by the enemy. The entire phrase acts as an adjective modifying the subject of the sentence (soldiers). Notice the phrase-within-a-phrase here. By the enemy is a prepositional phrase modifying the participle trapped. Remember that phrases can act as modifiers in other phrases.

The gerund phrase

At first, a gerund phrase may look like a participial phrase because gerund phrases begin with the - ing form of a verb (riding, seeing, talking, etc.) and have objects and modifiers. But a gerund phrase always acts as a noun in a sentence, not as an adjective. Like other nouns, a gerund phrase can serve as the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb or preposition, or the complement of a linking verb.

In the following example, the gerund phrase Riding the black stallion acts as a noun and is the subject of the verb terrified.

• Riding the black stallion terrified Hugh.

In the next sentence, the gerund phrase seeing the suspect is the direct object of the verb reported. Notice that the entire phrase, not just the word suspect, is the direct object.

• The police officer reported seeing the suspect.

Here, the gerund phrase talking often and loudly is the object of the preposition by.

• The senator made his reputation by talking often and loudly.

In the final example, Calling Uncle Roberto is a gerund phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. Asking for trouble is a gerund phrase acting as a complement of the linking verb is.

• Calling Uncle Roberto is asking for trouble.

The infinitive phrase

An infinitive phrase contains an infinitive (for example, to sleep, to have slept, to consider, to throw) and its objects and modifiers. Infinitive phrases usually function as nouns, though they can be used as adjectives and adverbs.

In this sentence , To sleep all night is an infinitive phrase acting as a noun. It is the subject of this sentence.

• To sleep all night was his only wish.

Here, To take an unpopular stand is an infinitive phrase acting as a noun. It is the direct object of the predicate didn't want.

• The representatives didn't want to take an unpopular stand.

Next, the infinitive phrase to spend foolishly acts as an adjective modifying the noun money.

• He had plenty of money to spend foolishly.

In the following sentence, the infinitive phrase to clear her mind acts as an adverb modifying drove. It answers the question “Why did she drive?”

• After the confrontation, she drove miles to clear her mind.

Split infinitives

Breaking up an infinitive with one or more adverbs is called splitting an infinitive. Splitting an infinitive isn't considered the grammatical sin it used to be, but most careful writers still don't split infinitives unless they have a reason to do so.

• They taught her to spend money wisely.

• not  They taught her to wisely spend money.

Sometimes, however, not splitting an infinitive is almost impossible.

• We expect the population to more than double over the next twenty years.

Other times, not splitting an infinitive causes ambiguity or sounds unnatural. In these cases, don't worry about breaking the old rule; clarity and smoothness take precedence over unsplit infinitives.

In this sentence, does further modify Russian efforts or discuss?

• We wanted to discuss further Russian efforts to modernize.

• Splitting the infinitive makes the sentence clearer.

• better  We wanted to further discuss Russian efforts to modernize.

• Splitting the infinitive in the following sentence makes it less stilted, more natural.

• He planned to take quickly the children to another room.

• better  He planned to quickly take the children to another room.