Prepositional Phrases and Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives
| Phrase | Identifying Features | How it functions in a sentence | Its role in the sentence | Examples |
| Gerund | always a verb word with an -ing ending | always works as a noun | Subject, any kind of object, or subject complement | Swimming at noon is fun.
I enjoy playing the guitar.. Opening the window brought fresh air into the stuffy room. |
| Participle
(participial phrase) |
always a verb word with an -ing, -ed, or -en ending (in other words, the base of the word is a verb and its suffix is -ing, -ed, or -en). | always works as an adjective | Describer of a noun or pronoun | the written word
the spoken directions a bleeding heart |
| Infinitive | always to + a verb | noun, adjective or adverb | Namer or describer | To take notes during a
lecture is important.
I prepared to study my notes. |
| Prepositional | begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun | adjective, adverb or noun | Most often as a describer but sometimes as a namer | in the box
on the table around the room for my instructor |