Review Of Verbals: Gerunds, Infinitives, And Participles

Front 1

For each of the following sentences, identify any and all verbal phrases, which type they are, and their function in the sentence. (flip)

Back 1

Gerund: -ing verbs that function as nouns
Infinitive: to + verb that functions as noun, adjective, or adverb
Participle: -ing or-ed verb that functions as adjective

Front 2

Once upon a time, there lived two sisters in a village in Eastern Europe.

Back 2

None

Front 3

By looking at them, you could not tell them apart because they looked so much alike.

Back 3

Looking at them, gerund, noun

Front 4

Even their parents struggled to tell them apart.

Back 4

To tell them apart, infinitive, adverb

Front 5

When they were growing up, the two girls often pretended to be each other.

Back 5

To be each other, infinitive, noun

Front 6

They were caught only a few times by their teacher, who was a wise old woman.

Back 6

None

Front 7

Somehow, after teaching the girls for many years, she had learned their differences and how to tell them apart.

Back 7

Teaching the girls for many years, gerund, noun; how to tell them apart, infinitive, noun

Front 8

One day, a traveling salesman stopped in their small village.

Back 8

Traveling, participle, adjective

Front 9

He was trying to sell popcorn-makers to the people of the village.

Back 9

To sell popcorn-makers to the people of the village, infinitive, noun

Front 10

These popcorn-makers were far more primitive than what we have today.

Back 10

None

Front 11

They needed to be used over an open fire or a fireplace.

Back 11

To be used over an open fire or a fireplace, infinitive, noun

Front 12

The salesman made his way from house to house until he came to the home of the two sisters.

Back 12

None

Front 13

Seeing the older sister, he was immediately smitten and wanted to strike up a conversation with her.

Back 13

Seeing the older sister, participle, adjective
To strike up a conversation with her, infinitive, noun

Front 14

Hoping to combine his business with his personal interest, he tried to interest her in a popcorn-maker.

Back 14

Hoping to combine his business with his personal interest, participle, adjective
To combine his business with his personal interest, infinitive, noun
To interest her in a popcorn-maker, infinitive, noun

Front 15

This isolated village didn’t even know what popcorn was, so she was completely lost in the conversation.

Back 15

Isolate, participle, adjective

Front 16

Giving up on the popcorn-maker, the salesman initiated some normal small-talk with her.

Back 16

Giving up on the popcorn-maker, participle, adjective

Front 17

But he found that her accent was difficult to understand.

Back 17

To understand, infinitive, adverb

Front 18

The older sister wanted to understand the salesman but couldn’t, so she called her father to come help.

Back 18

To understand the salesman, infinitive, noun
To come help, infinitive, adverb

Front 19

Knowing that her father would misunderstand his presence, the salesman hid behind a bush when the girl turned her back.

Back 19

Knowing that her father would misunderstand his presence, participle, adjective

Front 20

When her father came but didn’t see anyone, the girl started calling out for the salesman.

Back 20

Calling out for the salesman, gerund, noun

Front 21

He remained hidden behind the bush because he was afraid that her father was one of those overprotective shotgun-fathers.

Back 21

Hidden (behind the bush), participle, adjective

Front 22

It didn’t take long before the father and daughter lost interest and gave up their search; they had short attention spans.

Back 22

None

Front 23

Just when the salesman thought the coast was clear, he saw who he thought was the older sister coming out of the house.

Back 23

Coming out of the house, participle, adjective

Front 24

Singing to herself, she began hanging up the laundry to dry on a clothesline.

Back 24

Singing to herself, participle, adjective
Hanging up the laundry to dry on a clothesline, gerund, noun
To dry on a clothesline, infinitive, adverb

Front 25

The salesman was surprised to hear the girl singing without an accent because he thought that it was the older sister who had a thick accent.

Back 25

To hear the girl singing without an accent, infinitive, adverb
Singing without an accent, participle, adjective

Front 26

The younger sister didn’t have an accent because she spent more time around other people in the village than her sister did.

Back 26

None

Front 27

After making sure the father was out of sight, the salesman left his hiding place and approached the younger sister.

Back 27

Making sure the father was out of sight, gerund, noun
Hiding, participle, adjective

Front 28

He complimented her on her singing voice and told her that he had connections in Vienna that could make her a star.

Back 28

Singing, participle, adjective

Front 29

She graciously thanked him but told him that she was content with her simple life and her family.

Back 29

None

Front 30

The salesman kept persisting; at first, the girl was flattered, but then she asked him to leave her alone.

Back 30

Persisting, gerund, noun
Flattered, participle, adjective
To leave her alone, infinitive, noun

Front 31

When he didn’t, she called for her father, like her older sister had done.

Back 31

None

Front 32

Again, the salesman hid, but this girl saw where he went and told her father to chase him out.

Back 32

To chase him out, infinitive, noun

Front 33

Pulling the salesman out of the bush, the father confronted the salesman and asked him why he was bothering his daughter.

Back 33

Pulling the salesman out of the bush, participle, adjective

Front 34

The salesman said that he meant no harm but that he believed his daughter could be a well-known singer if she were allowed to leave.

Back 34

Well-known, participle, adjective
To leave, infinitive, noun

Front 35

The father was angry when the salesman insinuated that he was holding his daughter hostage and, pointing his finger at the salesman, began yelling at him.

Back 35

Pointing his finger at the salesman, participle, adjective
Yelling at him, gerund, noun

Front 36

The salesman quickly fled, afraid of getting shot and leaving his popcorn-maker behind.

Back 36

Afraid of getting shot, participle, adjective
Getting shot, gerund, noun
Leaving his popcorn-maker behind, participle, adjective

Front 37

When the salesman got back to his rented room at the boarding house, he discovered that he had left his popcorn-maker, but he was too afraid to go back for it.

Back 37

Boarding, participle, adjective
To go back for it, infinitive, adverb

Front 38

It took a while before the father noticed it; when he did, he insisted that it be returned to the man.

Back 38

None

Front 39

Handing it to his older daughter, he told her to take it to town and leave it at the boarding house.

Back 39

Handing it to his older daughter, participle, adjective
To take it to town and leave it at the boarding house, infinitive, noun
Boarding, participle, adjective

Front 40

The older daughter, after walking the three miles to town, left the popcorn-maker in a box with the boarding house owner.

Back 40

Walking the three miles to town, gerund, noun
Boarding, participle, adjective

Front 41

Absent-mindedly gazing through his window, the salesman just happened to catch sight of the girl leaving.

Back 41

Absent-mindedly gazing through his window, participle, adjective
To catch sight of the girl leaving, infinitive, noun
Leaving, participle, adjective

Front 42

Desperately desiring to catch her, he sprinted down the stairs and into the street.

Back 42

Desperately desiring to catch her, participle, adjective
To catch her, infinitive, noun

Front 43

He ran up behind her, grabbed her by the shoulders, and turned her around.

Back 43

None

Front 44

Almost out of breath, he told her that she couldn’t just go back to her home; she had to do something with her life.

Back 44

To do something with her life, infinitive, verb

Front 45

He told her of the possibility of fame and making enough money to support her family and move them to a better home.

Back 45

making enough money to support her family and move them to a better home, gerund, noun
to support her family and move them to a better home, infinitive, adjective

Front 46

The oldest sister was skeptical at first, but she really liked the idea of helping her family.

Back 46

Helping her family, gerund, noun

Front 47

She didn’t know how he was going to make her a star, but if he could help her make money for her family, she didn’t care.

Back 47

To make her a star, infinitive, noun

Front 48

So she agreed to go with the salesman when he travelled back to Vienna the next day to get more popcorn-makers.

Back 48

To go with the salesman when he traveled back to Vienna the next day to get more popcorn-makers, infinitive, noun
To get more popcorn-makers, infinitive, adverb

Front 49

When she went home that night, she prepared a note explaining to her family that she was going to Vienna to make enough money to help them.

Back 49

Explaining to her family that she was going to Vienna to make enough money to help them, participle, adjective
To make enough money to help them, infinitive, adverb
To help them, infinitive, adjective

Front 50

The next morning, taking one last look at the house, she left with a heavy heart but with hope for her family’s future.

Back 50

Taking one last look at the house, participle, adjective

Front 51

The two left town before anyone woke up and head toward Vienna.

Back 51

none

Front 52

The journey would take several days, but the salesman, eager to get to know the girl better, didn’t mind.

Back 52

To get to know the girl better, infinitive, adverb
To know the girl better, infinitive, noun

Front 53

He began talking quickly and nervously about anything and everything.

Back 53

talking quickly and nervously about anything and everything, gerund, noun

Front 54

The older girl, distracted by her own nervousness, hardly listened to him, so she merely nodded her head once in a while to look like she was listening.

Back 54

distracted by her own nervousness, participle, adjective
to look like she was listening, infinitive, adverb

Front 55

So the salesman never knew that he had gotten the wrong girl; he didn’t have the one who could sing.

Back 55

None

Front 56

All the way to Vienna, she didn’t speak much; the salesman didn’t give her many opportunities to speak, nor did she want to speak much.

Back 56

To speak, infinitive, adjective
To speak much, infinitive, noun

Front 57

When they got to Vienna, the salesman went to his company to get more popcorn-makers first of all.

Back 57

To get more popcorn-makers first of all, infinitive, adverb

Front 58

Then right after that, he took her to the theater district of the town where he knew one of the most prominent theater-owners.

Back 58

None

Front 59

On the way there, he ran into many of his friends, and he was excited to introduce this beautiful girl to them.

Back 59

to introduce this beautiful girl to them, infinitive, adverb

Front 60

He wished that he had more time to show his friends this girl’s talent, but he wanted to get started as soon as possible.

Back 60

To show his friends this girl’s talent, infinitive, adjective
To get started as soon as possible, infinitive, noun

Front 61

After all, he thought that it was a win-win situation; he thought that he could earn some money as the discoverer of this singing talent and earn her affection in the process.

Back 61

Singing, participle, adjective

Front 62

Meanwhile, the older sister, not even accustomed to life in the town, was overwhelmed.

Back 62

Not even accustomed to life in the town, participle, adjective
Overwhelmed, participle, adjective

Front 63

As they walked, hearing all the music and singing going on in the theater district, she realized what he was going to have her do.

Back 63

Hearing all the music and singing going on in the theater district, participle, adjective
Singing going on in the theater district, gerund, noun
Going on in the theater district, participle, adjective
To have her do, infinitive, noun

Front 64

Finally, she spoke up, asking him whether he intending her to sing to make money for her family.

Back 64

Asking him whether he was intending for her to sing to make money for her family, participle, adjective
Her to sing to make money for her family, infinitive, noun
To make money for her family, infinitive, adverb

Front 65

He said that certainly he wanted her to sing because she had such a beautiful voice.

Back 65

Her to sing, infinitive, noun

Front 66

Though flattered by this handsome gentleman, she knew that her voice was not beautiful and tried to tell him so.

Back 66

Flattered by this handsome gentleman, participle, adjective
To tell him so, infinitive, noun

Front 67

Noticing that her accent was thicker than he remembered but attributing it to nerves, he assured her that she was good enough to make it.

Back 67

Noticing that her accent was thicker than he remembered, participle, adjective
Attributing it to nerves, participle, adjective
To make it, adverb

Front 68

Feeling reassured, the older sister nodded and followed the salesman into the theater of the man he knew.

Back 68

Feeling reassured, participle, adjective

Front 69

The salesman exchanged words of greeting with the owner and told him of the great talent of this young girl he had with him.

Back 69

Greeting, gerund, noun

Front 70

Seeing potential in the simple yet elegant appearance of the girl, the owner also took an interest in making the girl a star.

Back 70

Seeing potential in the simply yet elegant appearance of the girl, participle, adjective
Making the girl a star, gerund, noun

Front 71

He didn’t even hear her sing before he booked her for a performance that night.

Back 71

None

Front 72

He had great faith in his travelling friend; he knew that he had good judgment, and since this was the first talent he ever discovered, she must be good.

Back 72

Travelling, participle, adjective

Front 73

The salesman and the owner had only two hours to prepare her for the performance.

Back 73

To prepare her for the performance, infinitive, adjective

Front 74

Not fully satisfied with her clothing, they gave her a costume and had artists change her hair and make-up.

Back 74

Not fully satisfied with her clothing, participle, adjective

Front 75

After it was done, looking in the mirror at herself, the girl felt confused.

Back 75

Looking in the mirror at herself, participle, adjective
Confused, participle, adjective

Front 76

She thought that all she was going to do was sing and then make money and go home.

Back 76

To do, infinitive, noun

Front 77

Before she had time to say anything, they thrust her onto the stage, the salesman prompting her to sing the same thing he heard her singing before.

Back 77

To say anything, infinitive, adjective
Prompting her to sing the same thing he heard her sing before, participle, adjective
To sing the same thing he heard her singing before, infinitive, noun
Singing before, participle, adjective

Front 78

She didn’t know what he meant by that, but she went out and began singing the community song of her town.

Back 78

Singing the community song of her town, gerund, noun

Front 79

Interested at first in the newcomer, the crowd listened intently, but, shocked at the horror of her voice, they quickly became enraged.

Back 79

Interested at first in the newcomer, participle, adjective
Shocked at the horror of her voice, participle, adjective
Enraged, participle, adjective

Front 80

They started throwing their jackets and the seat cushions and whatever else they could find.

Back 80

throwing their jackets and the seat cushions and whatever else they could find, gerund, noun

Front 81

The poor girl ran off the stage, ashamed and crying.

Back 81

Ashamed, participle, adjective
Crying, participle, adjective

Front 82

The salesman was shocked by her singing; he asked her what had happened.

Back 82

Shocked, participle, adjective
Singing, gerund, noun

Front 83

Speaking in between sobs, she said that she had never been a good singer, not like her sister.

Back 83

Speaking in between sobs, participle, adjective

Front 84

Suddenly, the salesman knew what had happened; he had absconded with the wrong girl.

Back 84

None

Front 85

Grabbing the girl by the arm, he dragged her through the angry mobs, and they started journeying back to her town.

Back 85

Grabbing the girl by the arm, participle, adjective
Journeying back to her town, gerund, noun

Front 86

They both apologized to each other repeatedly for the misunderstanding that occurred.

Back 86

Misunderstanding that occurred, gerund, noun

Front 87

Ironically, when they got back to her house, her sister was again singing while hanging up laundry.

Back 87

Hanging up laundry, gerund, noun

Front 88

The younger sister ran inside to get her father when she saw that her missing sister had returned.

Back 88

To get her father, infinitive, adverb
Missing, participle, adjective

Front 89

Coming out with his shotgun, the father was out for blood because he thought that his daughter had been kidnapped.

Back 89

Coming out with his shotgun, participle, adjective

Front 90

When his daughter assured him that nothing bad had happened aside from her making a fool of herself, the father calmed down.

Back 90

Her making a fool of herself, gerund, noun

Front 91

Seizing an opportunity he thought he had, the salesman then asked the father for one of the hands of his daughters in marriage.

Back 91

Seizing an opportunity he thought he had, participle, adjective

Front 92

When the father asked him which one he meant, the salesman couldn’t decide; he said that either one would do.

Back 92

None

Front 93

At that, both girls pulled out their shotguns and chased the salesman out of town.

Back 93

None

Front 94

After all, anyone who couldn’t tell them apart or even decide which he loved was not worthy to marry.

Back 94

To marry, infinitive, adverb