Gerunds, Participles, & Infinitives
The completed meal was very expensive to make. Completed is AND to make is
Completed is a participle because it describes the meal AND to make is an infinitive, because it begins with to and ends in an action verb.
Participles are
Verbals that are pretending to be adjectives or adverbs. They are describing words.
Gerunds are
Verbals that are verbs acting like nouns. It is pretending to be a thing.
Jogging is my favorite sport. Jogging is
a gerund, because it is a thing
The contractor was given a building. Building is
a gerund, because it is a thing
Driving is hard when it is dark. Driving is
a gerund, because it is a thing.
My favorite sport, baseball, takes a lot of my time. Baseball is
a gerund, because it is a thing.
Samuel decided that missing the lecture everyday was hurting his grade. missing is
a gerund, because it is a thing.
They are sure the extra planning will be worth it in the end. planning is
a gerund, because it is a thing.
While playing the tuba, Orin felt his world was perfect. Playing is
a gerund, because it is a thing.
Brenda seemed surprised when the team decided to withdraw. Surprised is
a participle, because it describes Brenda
That lost coin was never found. Lost is
a participle, because it describes the coin.
The marathon runner, pushed to the limit, collapsed at the finish line. Pushed is
a participle, because it describes the runner.
The water, boiling on the stove, was hot. Boiling is
a participle, because it describes the water.
The window, broken on Thursday, was expensive to repair. Broken is
a participle, because it describes the window
The cracked windows have been fixed. Cracked is
a participle, because it describes the windows.
I love to laugh at people's jokes. To laugh is
an infinitive because it has to and an action verb
Bill refused to accept the idea that his birthday cake was gone. To accept is
an infinitive, because it begins with to and ends in an action verb
In order to win you need the highest number. To win is
an infinitive, because it starts with to and ends in an action verb
Infinitives are
the word to and an action verb EX: to eat
