The participle, gerund, and infinitive forms (covered in KSV Chapters 11 and 12) are all forms based on the English verb. These forms, however, do not function as verbs, but rather as adjectives and nouns. In other words, participles, gerunds, and infinitives all involve a clash between form and function.

1. The exercise below gives a quick review of possible verb forms. Fill in the principal parts of the two verbs listed. Note that the exercise asks for the infinitive form as well as the base form. The infinitive is created by adding to to the base form, as in to eat.

Since participles, gerunds, and infinitives each involves a clash of form and function, we should review the functions of the parts of speech involved in these items.

2. To refresh your memory of the functions of verbs, adjectives, and nouns, fill in the slots below and identify the part of speech of the item that you filled in.

1. The seems all right. POS

2. The child dislikes . POS

3. I was tired of . POS

4. They must . POS

5. They must it POS

6. They did not the novel. POS

7. They must good. POS

8. The man seems very . POS

9. He is more than I am. POS

3. Identify each italicized phrase below as "participle" or "other."

1. The fish, wriggling free of the hook, swam away.

2. Waiting for the bus in this weather is awful.

3. The girl eating the hot dog is a freshman.

4. I am leaving.

5. I had left by the time you arrived.

6. The symphony played at the recital was Beethoven's ninth.

7. He gulped his coffee standing up.

8. Playing in the band relaxes him.

4. Identify the italicized phrases below as gerund or other.

1. Felicia's grandmother enjoys riding a ten-speed bicycle.

2. Felicia's grandmother was riding a ten-speed bicycle when she popped a wheelie.

3. Due to the holiday schedule, the meeting will be adjourning early.

4. They oppose adjourning early.

5. She dislikes loud singing of bawdy songs.

6. She dislikes singing bawdy songs loudly.

7. Glouster had been singing bawdy songs loudly for several hours.

5. Identify the italicized phrases as participle phrases or gerund phrases.

1. Betty having told us that you were coming, we weren't surprised.

2. We appreciated Betty's having told us that you were coming.

3. Everyone attending the ethnic festival commented on the intense, rhythmic drumming at the opening ceremony.

4. Sharon spends many weekends searching for the perfect beach.

5. Daydreaming about wooden boats occupies more and more of Antonio's time.

6. The vegetable soup cooking on the stove is for dinner.

6. Fill in each blank with the gerund or infinitive of the verb in parentheses as appropriate. In some cases, both the gerund and infinitive may be appropriate. Once you've done this, determine how you decided which form was appropriate.

1. (leave) I decided .

2. (shop at malls) I like .

3. (know Madonna) He claims .

4. (see a chiropractor) He has started .

5. (write the book) He put off .

6. (meet Oscar) Felix agreed .