Language Arts · Grade 10 · Grammar and Usage for Academic Writing · Term 4

Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, Infinitives

Students will identify and correctly use gerunds, participles, and infinitives in their writing.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.1.A

About This Topic

Verbals are verb forms that function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, enriching sentence structure in academic writing. Gerunds end in -ing and act as nouns, as in 'Reading improves vocabulary.' Participles serve as adjectives: present participles like 'excited children' and past participles like 'written report.' Infinitives start with 'to' plus the base verb and fill multiple roles, such as 'To succeed requires effort' (noun) or 'a chance to win' (adjective).

This topic supports Ontario Grade 10 Language expectations for grammar conventions and precise expression. Students analyze verbals in literary texts to understand their contributions to meaning and style, then apply them in essays to vary syntax and convey ideas clearly. Differentiating forms builds sentence-level analysis skills essential for higher-level composition.

Active learning excels with verbals through manipulative tasks that reveal functions visually and kinesthetically. When students sort phrase cards, rewrite sentences collaboratively, or hunt verbals in peers' work, abstract rules become patterns they own. These methods boost retention, reduce errors in writing, and encourage experimentation with sophisticated structures.

Key Questions

1. Analyze how verbals function as different parts of speech within a sentence.
2. Differentiate between the various forms and functions of verbals.
3. Construct sentences that correctly employ gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the function of gerunds, participles, and infinitives as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs within complex sentences.
• Differentiate between the grammatical roles of gerunds, participles, and infinitives in various sentence structures.
• Construct original sentences that accurately employ gerunds, participles, and infinitives to enhance clarity and style.
• Analyze sample academic texts to explain how the strategic use of verbals contributes to precision and sophistication.
• Critique sentences written by peers, identifying and correcting misuses of gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

Before You Start

Parts of Speech: Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs

Why: Students must understand the basic functions of these word classes to grasp how verbals adapt these roles.

Sentence Structure: Clauses and Phrases

Why: Understanding how words group into meaningful phrases and clauses is foundational to identifying and analyzing verbals within sentences.

Key Vocabulary

gerund	A verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun. For example, 'Swimming is good exercise.'
participle	A verb form that can function as an adjective. Present participles end in -ing (e.g., 'a barking dog'), and past participles often end in -ed or -en (e.g., 'a broken window').
infinitive	The base form of a verb, usually preceded by 'to'. Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, such as in 'She wants to learn.'
verbal phrase	A group of words consisting of a verbal and its related modifiers or complements. Examples include 'running a marathon' (gerund phrase) or 'to finish the race' (infinitive phrase).

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

All -ing words are verbs.

What to Teach Instead

Gerunds are -ing forms functioning as nouns, unlike verbs which show action. Sorting activities with color-coded cards help students test phrases in subject positions, clarifying the shift through hands-on trial. Peer justification reinforces the distinction.

Common Misconception

Participles only describe past actions.

What to Teach Instead

Present participles show ongoing action as adjectives, while past ones indicate completion. Visual mapping sentences onto charts during group work reveals modifier positions and tenses, correcting overgeneralization via collaborative analysis.

Common Misconception

Infinitives cannot act as subjects.

What to Teach Instead

Infinitives often serve as subjects, like 'To study pays off.' Sentence-building games where students place infinitives in varied slots demonstrate flexibility, building confidence through immediate feedback and examples.

Active Learning Ideas

Card Sort: Verbal Categories

Prepare cards with 20 phrases exemplifying gerunds, participles, and infinitives. Students in small groups sort them into labeled piles, then create original sentences for each. Regroup to share and verify with class criteria.

30 min·Small Groups

Sentence Rewrite Relay

Provide simple sentences on strips. Teams of four pass a strip, each member rewriting it by inserting one verbal type. Display results for whole-class voting on best revisions.

25 min·Small Groups

Verbal Hunt and Edit

Students highlight verbals in a model paragraph individually, then pair up to edit partner's draft by adding two verbals each. Discuss changes and impacts on readability.

35 min·Pairs

Build-a-Sentence Chain

Start with a base clause whole class. Pairs add a verbal phrase sequentially via document share, projecting the evolving sentence. Analyze final structure together.

20 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Journalists use varied sentence structures, including verbals, to make news articles engaging and informative, ensuring readers understand complex events clearly.
• Technical writers in fields like engineering or medicine employ precise language, using participles and infinitives to describe processes and specifications accurately in manuals and reports.
• Lawyers craft legal arguments by carefully selecting words and sentence constructions, often using gerunds and infinitives to define actions and responsibilities in contracts and briefs.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with five sentences, each containing one verbal phrase. Ask them to underline the verbal phrase and label its function (noun, adjective, adverb). For example: 'The student's goal, studying diligently, was to pass the exam.'

Peer Assessment

Have students exchange a paragraph they have written. Instruct them to highlight any gerunds, participles, or infinitives they find. Then, they should write one comment on whether each identified verbal is used correctly and effectively.

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a sentence starter like 'To improve my writing, I will...' or 'Reading extensively involves...'. Ask them to complete the sentence using a specific type of verbal (gerund, participle, or infinitive) and then explain its function in their completed sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I differentiate gerunds from participles for Grade 10?

Gerunds act as nouns and can be subjects or objects; participles modify nouns as adjectives. Use color-coding: blue for gerund nouns, green for participle adjectives. Practice with mixed sentences where students label and diagram, then rewrite to swap forms, solidifying functions through revision.

What causes dangling participle errors?

Dangling participles lack a clear noun to modify, creating confusion like 'Running to class, the bell rang.' Teach by identifying the implied actor in group analysis of flawed sentences. Revision stations where pairs fix and explain changes build editing skills for clear academic writing.

How can active learning improve mastery of verbals?

Active methods like card sorts, relay rewrites, and peer hunts make grammar interactive, helping students internalize rules kinesthetically. Manipulating phrases reveals patterns faster than worksheets; collaboration exposes errors early, while games reduce anxiety. Results show 20-30% gains in writing accuracy as students apply verbals confidently in drafts.

How to use infinitives effectively in student writing?

Model infinitives as nouns for purpose ('To learn is key'), adjectives for detail ('time to revise'), or adverbs for reason ('studied to pass'). Assign prompts requiring one of each; follow with peer feedback circles. This scaffolds varied use, enhancing sentence sophistication in essays.