DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

Diagramming sentences ppt

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THE INFINITIVE

 

Structure:  The infinitive is usually made up of to plus the simple form of the verb. The simple form sometimes can appear without the to.  When combined with auxiliaries, the infinitive has several forms.

To write (simple)

To have written  (perfect)

To be writing  (progressive)

To have been writing  (perfect progressive)

To be written  (passive)

To have been written  (perfect passive)

The infinitive may have a subject or an object or both. Notice that if the subject of an infinitive is a pronoun, it must be an object pronoun. Examples:

We asked John to study more.

We asked him to study more.

John likes to play basketball.

We prefer to read mystery stories.

She invited us to visit her farm.

The infinitive is sometimes used without to when it follows the prepositions but, except, and besides.

 She does nothing    but/except/besides    sing all day long.

The infinitive without to is used following verbs of causing, such as let, help, make, see and verbs of sense such as watch, hear, feel.  Notice that the infinitive has a subject—a noun or an object pronoun.

 Please let me study here.

I helped him pass the examination.

I made John answer the letter.

I saw you take the money.

I watched the bird make its nest.

I felt the weather become warm.

I felt her anger increase.

They heard the bird make a strange noise.

GERUNDS

A gerund is a verbal that ends in "ing" and functions as a noun. The term verbal indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence that a noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject complement, and object of preposition.
Gerund as subject:
• Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (Traveling is the gerund.)
• The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (The gerund has been removed.)
 
Gerund as direct object:
• They do not appreciate my singing. (The gerund is singing.)
• They do not appreciate my assistance. (The gerund has been removed)

Gerund as subject complement:
• My cat's favorite activity is sleeping. (The gerund is sleeping.)
• My cat's favorite food is salmon. (The gerund has been removed.)

Gerund as object of preposition:
• The police arrested him for speeding. (The gerund is speeding.)
• The police arrested him for criminal activity. (The gerund has been removed.)

A Gerund Phrase is a group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the gerund, such as:
The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence.
Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do.
Finding (gerund)a needle (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
in a haystack (prepositional phrase as adverb).

The gerund phrase functions as the direct object of the verb appreciate.
I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.
my (possessive pronoun adjective form, modifying the gerund)
offering (gerund).
you (indirect object of action expressed in gerund)
this opportunity (direct object of action expressed in gerund)

The gerund phrase functions as the subject complement.
Tom's favorite tactic has been jabbering away to his constituents.
jabbering away to (gerund)
his constituents (direct object of action expressed in gerund)

The gerund phrase functions as the object of the preposition for.
You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.
faking (gerund)
an illness (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
to avoid work (infinitive phrase as adverb)

The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence.
Being the boss made Jeff feel uneasy.
Being (gerund)
the boss (subject complement for Jeff, via state of being expressed in gerund)

Punctuation: A gerund virtually never requires any punctuation with it.

Points to remember:
1. A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun.
2. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).
3. Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.