OBJECTIVE:
A verbal phrase is a verb form but does not function as the verb or action of the sentence. Verbal phrases can occur in three forms:

1. Participial phrases (past or present): walking the dog (present) … overwhelmed with anxiety (past)
   ★ participial phrases function as adjectives

MODEL SENTENCE:
(Hoping to make a difference), the young man went into education. (“hoping to make a difference” functions as an adjective that modifies “the young man”)

2. Gerund phrases : making excuses … honoring the client’s wishes
   ★ gerund phrases function as nouns

MODEL SENTENCE:
(Honoring the client’s wishes) is the first principle of good service. (“honoring the client’s wishes” functions as a noun)

3. Infinitive phrases: to believe… to serve… to sacrifice
   ★ infinitive phrases may function as nouns, adjectives and adverbs

MODEL SENTENCE:
Do not use a hatchet (to remove a fly) from your friend’s forehead. (“to remove a fly” functions as an an adjective that modifies hatchet).

Writing descriptive sentences in DRAG-N-DROP mode on piclits.com can allow users to focus on selecting words to create VERBAL PHRASES in a sentence.

MODEL PIC-LIT:

GUIDED PRACTICE WRITING PROMPT:

1. Go to piclits.com
2. Sign in with your e-mail and password
3. Select a picture from the gallery of pictures
4. In DRAG-N-DROP mode, create one sentence that employs one of the three verbal phrases: participial, gerund, or infinitive.