What Is a Verbal Phrase?
A verbal phrase is a part of a sentence that is built around a verb, but it acts like another part of speech – often as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Verbal phrases can make sentences more interesting by adding details. While the phrase may look like it has an action verb, it doesn’t act like a main verb in the sentence.
Types of Verbal Phrases
There are three main types of verbal phrases in English:
- Gerund Phrases
- Infinitive Phrases
- Participial Phrases
Let’s look at each type closely, with easy examples to understand.
1. Gerund Phrases
A gerund is a verb that ends in -ing and acts as a noun. Gerund phrases can show what a person enjoys, dislikes, or is doing.
Example:
- “Swimming in the lake is fun.”
In this sentence, “swimming in the lake” is a gerund phrase that acts as the subject of the sentence.
Practice Tip: Try thinking about activities you like, and start sentences with words ending in -ing. For example, “Dancing is exciting” or “Reading books helps me learn.” These gerund phrases help you express hobbies and interests easily.
Related Practice Resource on Learn English Weekly: Download worksheets for identifying gerund phrases.
2. Infinitive Phrases
An infinitive is the base form of a verb with the word “to” before it, like “to play” or “to eat.” Infinitive phrases can work as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence.
Example:
- “She likes to read books before bed.”
In this sentence, “to read books” is an infinitive phrase that describes what she likes to do.
Practice Tip: Try starting sentences with infinitives to express goals or wishes. For example, “To learn English, I watch videos on Learn English Weekly.”
External Resource for Extra Practice: English Grammar Online: Infinitive Phrases.
3. Participial Phrases
A participial phrase uses a verb form that acts as an adjective to describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Participles can end in -ing (present participle) or -ed (past participle).
Example:
- “The girl, smiling at the puppy, looks happy.”
Here, “smiling at the puppy” is a participial phrase describing the girl.
Practice Tip: Participial phrases can add fun details to a story. Think of ways to describe people or things using phrases like “jumping over the fence” or “painted by the artist.”
Related Article: Improve Your English Reading Comprehension with Practice on Learn English Weekly
Why Are Verbal Phrases Important?
Verbal phrases are useful because they:
- Add Detail: They help make sentences more specific and detailed.
- Express Feelings and Actions: They show what people are doing, want to do, or feel about something.
- Make Sentences Shorter: Instead of adding many small sentences, you can use one verbal phrase to share details.
For example, “She went to the store” can become, “Hurrying to the store, she grabbed her bag.” This adds more excitement and context!
How to Use Verbal Phrases in Everyday English
Practice with Gerunds
Think of verbs that describe your favourite activities and add -ing to make gerunds. Use them in sentences to express what you like or dislike. Here are a few examples:
- “Playing soccer is fun.”
- “Eating vegetables keeps me healthy.”
Practice with Infinitives
Make sentences about things you want or plan to do using “to” + verb. Examples include:
- “To improve my English, I read every day.”
- “She hopes to visit England.”
Practice with Participles
Describe people or things by adding an -ing or -ed verb form as an adjective. For example:
- “The tired dog slept on the floor.”
- “The laughing children played outside.”
Tips for Learning Verbal Phrases Faster
- Read More Books: Children’s books and storybooks are great places to see verbal phrases in action. Visit our reading list on Learn English Weekly for fun book recommendations!
- Practice with Worksheets: Download printable free worksheets on Learn English Weekly’s Resource Page, or go to the Verbal Phrases Worksheet here.
- Watch Videos: Listening to English videos helps you hear how verbal phrases work in real sentences. Explore our videos for kids and beginners on YouTube to start.
- Play English Vocabulary Games: Learning through games is fun! Try games that challenge you to make sentences with verbal phrases. Check out our article on English vocabulary games for ideas.
Common Mistakes with Verbal Phrases
1. Confusing Gerunds with Infinitives
Remember, gerunds (ending in -ing) are used to talk about activities. Infinitives (to + verb) often show goals or wishes.
Example:
- Incorrect: “She enjoys to swim.”
- Correct: “She enjoys swimming.”
2. Using Participles Incorrectly
Participial phrases need to be close to the noun they describe. Otherwise, they can be confusing.
Example:
- Incorrect: “Walking to school, the bag was heavy.”
- Correct: “Walking to school, she carried a heavy bag.”
Verbal Phrase Quiz
Now that you know about verbal phrases, here are a few questions to test your knowledge. Try to answer each one, then check your answers at the end!
- What type of verbal phrase is in this sentence? “Eating ice cream is my favourite activity.”
- a. Gerund phrase
- b. Infinitive phrase
- c. Participial phrase
- Which of the following is an infinitive phrase?
- a. Swimming in the pool
- b. To learn English
- c. Running to the store
- Choose the sentence with a participial phrase:
- a. The sleeping cat lay in the sun.
- b. He went to the park.
- c. They want to visit the museum.
Conclusion
Verbal phrases add colour and detail to English sentences, making them more interesting and expressive. Whether you’re using gerunds, infinitives, or participles, these phrases are fun and easy ways to talk about activities, wishes, and descriptions.
Learning verbal phrases can be challenging at first, but with practice, it becomes easier! Visit Learn English Weekly for more resources, including free worksheets, engaging blog posts, and videos to help you improve your English skills every day.
