ELS 105 - ENGLISH SYNTAX

Prelim Module 1

Name: Course: BAEL 2 Date: 14-18 SEPT 2020 Module No. 1

Topic: VERBAL PHRASES

SYNTAX as an essential component of linguistics is the study sentence structure and patterns.
It is important that you begin with the basic components that make up a sentence before you even start the study of sentence
structure and patterns.
In this module, you will focus on strengthening your knowledge on verbals and differentiating them from verbs. Verbals are
often one of the most misconceived words in a sentence with many mistakenly considering them as verbs.

I. OBJECTIVES

With the help of this self-instructional learning module, you should be able to: 
use verbal forms properly in your own sentences.

II. ACTIVITIES

In this activity, you will get to analyze verb forms and lexical use of words. You may have met these things in your previous
English classes and these are being revisited as a preparation for a more in-depth exploration of your linguistic knowledge
later on as you advance in this course.

To begin, perform the following instructions.

 Transform the following verbs into their present participle forms.

 Then, create a simple sentence using each present participle form of the verb. 
And, label the lexical use of the transformed verbs in the sentences.

PRESENT SENTENCE LEXICAL

VERBS
PARTICIPLE USING PRESENT PARTICIPLE USE
A. leave 01. I am leaving. 11. 21.
B. learn 02. I’m still learning. 12. 22.
C. accept 03. 13. 23.
D. grow 04. The plants are growing. 14. 24.
E. love 05. Your such a loving person.15. 25.
F. spend 06. Stop spending money. 16. 26.
G. travel 07. I love travelling the world. 17. 27.
H. eat 08. She was eating. 18. 28.
I. exercise 09. Spend your time in exercising. 19. 29.
J. glow 10. You are glowing. 20. 30.

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III. ABSTRACTION

Do you always use present participle verb forms as verbs in sentences?

Present participles (~ing) are NOT always used as verbs in sentences. Some of them function as something else. They are
verbs only when they express the action in the sentence.

Let us first differentiate verbs from verbals. Study the matrix below.
VERBS
VERSUS VERBALS
VERBS express actions or state of beings and
VERBALS are verb forms that do NOT function
function as verbs in sentences while
as verbs in sentences
Verb Example:
both look similar
I am eating sweets.
but function differently Verbal Example:
I like eating sweets.
In the above sentence, EATING functions as a
verb because it is the action in the sentence. The
In the above sentence, EATING does NOT
complete verb of the sentence is AM EATING in while
function as a verb because it is NOT the action in
the present progressive tense.
the sentence. The action is LIKE. Thus, the verb
is LIKE and EATING functions as a noun.

VERBALS only look like verbs but they are NOT the verbs in sentences. It is important that you
can spot that their form is totally different from their function or use. It’s the same as people.
Looks do not necessarily reflect one’s function or use.

Now that you know the difference between verbs and verbals. Here are the three types of verbals.
TYPES STRUCTURE LEXICAL USE EXAMPLES RATIONALIZATION
NOUN

1. Gerund Present Participle as Subject Learning is fun. subject of sentence

as Object I enjoy learning. object of “enjoy”
as Compliment Reading is learning. compliment to “reading”
NOUN
as Subject To learn is fun. subject of sentence

2. Infinitive “to” + “base form” as Object I want to learn. object of “want”

as Compliment The goal is to learn. compliment to “goal”
ADJECTIVE This is the way to learn. modifies “way”
ADVERB I read to learn. modifies “read”
modifies “I”
Past Participle /
3. Participial ADJECTIVE I’m happy reading novels.
Present Participle

For infinitives, it takes deeper analysis on the lexical use as there are three possible uses.
an INFINITIVE a NOUN when used as a subject or a direct/indirect object
functions as an ADJECTIVE when used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns
an ADVERB when used to describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs

From the matrix above, the three types of verbals are defined as follows:
Gerunds are verbals in present participle form used only as nouns.

Infinitives are verbals in “to” plus base form used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Participials are verbals in past or present participles form used only as adjectives.
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Study the following examples.
GERUNDS

INFINITIVES

PARTICIPIALS

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IV. ASSESSMENT
INSTRUCTIONS: Reading the passage, analyze the verb form, verbal type, and the lexical use of each highlighted word.
Shade the letter of your choice on the shading section (only for printed module takers).
To keep track of the choices and numbers, follow the guides provided below.
Online assessment will be through a Google Form. You will receive the link via online update.

Tiffany, bored with the usual presents, asked for a pet for her
CAREFULLY SHADE WITH A PEN OR PENCIL
birthday. Walking a dog of her own had been her dream for a
long time. A poodle puppy wagging its tail in a pet store caught
her eye. Hoping for this pet, Tiffany went to the store
every day
to look at the beloved pup. On her birthday, Tiffany and her
mom
hurried to get to the store to buy the poodle. Tiffany
named the
excited puppy Inglebert, which means “unusually
intelligent.”
Playing fetch and teaching Inglebert new tricks now take
up
much of Tiffany’s time.

CHOICES
VERB FORMS VERBAL TYPES LEXICAL USES
A. Base Form A. Gerund A. Noun
B. Past Form B. Infinitive B. Adjective
C. Past Participle C. Participial C. Adverb

NUMBERING SCHEME
Numbers 01-10: Analyze the verb form.
Numbers 11-20: Analyze the verbal type.
Numbers 21-30: Analyze the lexical use.

WORDS TO VERB VERBAL LEXICAL

ANALYZE FORM TYPE USE
A. bored 01 11 21
B. walking 02 12 22
C. wagging 03 13 23
D. hoping 04 14 24
E. to look 05 15 25

V. APPLICATION

COMMENT a one-sentence caption containing all three verbals on photo below (posted on the facebook group).
LABEL the verbal after each using the initials; (G) - Gerund, (I) - Infinitive, (P) - Participial
RATIONALIZE them following the guide below. No two captions should be alike.

Example Caption:
Visiting (G) a place like this is a goal to pursue (I) for people who like to
wander (I) to any relaxing (P) escapade.

Rationalization:
gerund visiting noun as subject
infinitives to pursue adjective to “goal”
to wander object of “like”
participial relaxing adjective to “escapade”

Bargo, D. D. (2016). English Plus: An Intensive Grammar Review. Quezon City: Great Books Trading
References: Finegan, E. (2008). Language: Its Structure and Use (7th ed). Connecticut: Cengage Learning
Murphy, R. & Smalzer, W.R. (2009). Grammar In Use Intermediate (3rd ed). New York: Cambridge University Press

LEONARDO S. SABELLANO, LPT

Prepared by:
Instructor

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