Chapter 11: Diagramming Verbals
(Gerunds, Participles, & Infinitives)

Do you know what verbals are? They are words that are formed from verbs but don't act as verbs. There are three types. Let's look briefly at what they are, and then we'll explore each one more and see how to diagram them!

Are you ready to diagram? You can do this! The answers are at the bottom of the page. 

Remember that these verbals end with ing and act like nouns. They can function as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, objects of prepositions, and more. When we diagram gerunds, we put them on steps. We put the ing part on the lower part of the step and the rest of the verb on the upper part of the step.

We attach the step to the slot in the diagram that corresponds to the gerund's function. For example, the following sentence has a gerund functioning as the subject.

Running is fun.

Running is a gerund. It is formed from the verb run, it ends in ing, and it is functioning as a noun. It is the subject of the sentence.

Gerund Phrases

Gerunds can also take complements (direct objects, predicate nouns…) and modifiers (adjectives, adverbs…).

Gerunds plus their complements and/or modifiers are called gerund phrases.

Running marathons is fun.

Running marathons is a gerund phrase. It's made up of the gerund running and the direct object marathons. 

Directions: Diagram the following sentences. Place the gerund on a line that is drawn like a step. The ing part of the gerund goes on the bottom part of the step, and the rest goes on the top part of the step.

With a forked line, connect the step to the rest of the sentence wherever it should go. (Since gerunds are nouns, they can be the subject, direct object, object of the preposition, or predicate noun.) 

1. My sister and I enjoy laughing.

2. Wow! Riding my bike is really fun.

3. Jumping rope for twenty minutes is good for your heart. 

4. My favorite game is throwing frisbees to my dog.

5. I dream of diving to the bottom of the ocean.

Remember that these verbals end in ing, d, t, or n, and they act as adjectives. That means that they can modify any noun or pronoun.

We diagram them on a curved, slanted line under the noun or pronoun that they are modifying.

Filtered is a participle. It is formed from the verb filter, it ends in d, and it is functioning as an adjective modifying the noun water.

Participial Phrases

Participles can also take complements and modifiers. Participles plus their complements and/or modifiers are called participial phrases.

Throwing rocks across the water, my friend smiled.

Throwing rocks across the water is a participial phrase. It contains the participle throwing along with the direct object rocks and the prepositional phrase across the water. The whole phrase is functioning as an adjective modifying the noun friend.

Directions: Diagram the following sentences. Place the participles on a curved line below the word that it modifies.

1. Have you seen my biking shorts?

2. Yuck! I hate burned toast.

3. I threw the ball to the girl running across the field.

4. The plants growing near the window need water.

5. The filtered water tastes delicious.

These verbals are formed from the words to + a verb, and they can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Infinitive Phrases

Infinitives can also take complements and modifiers. Infinitives plus their complements and/or modifiers are called infinitive phrases.

I want to win the game.

To win the game is an infinitive phrase. It is formed from the infinitive to win and the direct object game. The whole phrase is functioning as a noun. It is the direct object of the verb want.

Directions: Diagram the following sentences. Place the word to on an angled line, and write the verb on a horizontal line coming off the angled line. 

With a forked line, connect this to the rest of the sentence wherever it should go. (Infinitives can be nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.)  

1. My dog loves to bark at cars.

2. To master a new skill takes patience and persistence.

3. Jessica entered the race to win.

4. My goal is to live happily!

5. The puppies barked to get my attention.

4. This answer is only available in the Sentence Diagramming Exercises Ebook

5. This answer is only available in the Sentence Diagramming Exercises Ebook.

4. This answer is only available in the Sentence Diagramming Exercises Ebook.

5. This answer is only available in the Sentence Diagramming Exercises Ebook.

Get these answers in the ebook!