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The Plains Indians enjoyed racing horses for sport.
OBJECT OF PREPOSITION
The Indians trained a horse for a race by tying the animal to a stake or tree.
1. Crossing the Niagara gorge on a tightrope was first accomplished by the Frenchman known professionally as Blondin.
As a noun the gerund crossing is the subject of the verb was accomplished. As a verb it is modified by the adverb phrase on a tightrope and takes the object gorge. Known is a participle modifying Frenchman. When the subject, the direct object, or the predicate noun is a gerund phrase, it is placed on a platform as indicated in the diagram.
2. One of his spectacular feats was carrying a man on his back during a crossing.
Carrying is used as a predicate noun. Crossing, in the sense used here, is defined as a noun.
3. Blondin often thrilled spectators by turning somersaults on the swaying rope.
The gerund turning is the object of the preposition by and takes the object somersaults.
GERUND PHRASE A ground and the word which modify it or complete its meaning form a gerund phrase.
At the age of fine Blondin began experimenting on the tightrope.
PRACTICE 21 Explaining Gerunds
Diagram the following sentences.
OR Copy every gerund and explain its use.
THE GREAT SUBWAY MYSTERY
A. 1. Can you imagine building a tunnel in secret beneath a busy city street?
2 A surprise events for New Yorkers in 1870 was the opening of a mysterious new subway.
3. Cars were propelled by blowing air through a tube.
4. The builder, Alfred Beach, had received permission for constructing a pneumatic dispatch service.
5. Instead he built a subway by enlarging the tube.
6. For privacy, the builder chose working during the quiet hours of the night.
B 1. For removing dirt quietly the workers muffled the wheels of the wagons.
2. Tunneling through the soil did not disturb the street traffic.
3. The goal was providing a new method of transportation for New Yorkers.
4. Opening the first small stretch might encourage extension of the line.
5. By killing a transit bill, the political opposition delayed further progress.
6. In digging a subway in 1912 workers broke through the old tunnel and found the little car on its rails.
POSSESSIVE WITH A GERUND Use the possessive form of a noun or a pronoun before a gerund.
People gasped at (him, his) performing meredible feats 190 feet above the water. (People did not gasp at him; they gasped at his performing incredible feats. Performing is a gerund, object of the preposition at. His modifies performing.)
PRACTICE 22 Modifiers of Gerunds
Select the preferred or never – questioned form in each pair of parentheses, and tell how it is used.
1. Curt’s mother disapproved (him, his) deciding to drop orchestra.
2. The parents enjoyed (our, us) singing the old songs for the special music program.
3. Sandy’s sister object to (him, his) playing records during her telephone calls.
4. My parents were delighted at (me, my) becoming sports editor on the Clarion.
5. Congratulations! I’ve just heard of (you your) winning a trip to Washington.
6. The teacher approved (Tom, Tom’s) using the Reader’s Guide for his project.
PARTICIPLE AND GERUND The possessive is not used with a participle.
The sense of the sentence will determine whether a participle or a gerund is required.
Participle: We found him walking in the park. (His would not make sense. Walking is a participle modifying him. He is the object of found.)
Gerund: We disapproved his walking in the park while he should be doing homework. (Walking is a gerund, the object of disapproved. His modifies walking.
PRACTICE 23 Studying Participles and Gerunds
Select the preferred alternative tell why you think it is correct.
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We came upon (Ellen, Ellen’s) shaking her head and frowning.
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I like Al, but I dislike (him, his) forgetting the date of the picnic.
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They found (our, us) digging in the garden.
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The twins told of (their, them) finding a dollar bill on the sidewalk near.
5. I was (you, your) walking along the boardwalk at sunset.
PRACTICE 24 Studying Participles and Gerunds
Discuss the difference in meaning between the sentences in each pair.
1. a. I dislike you finding fault with me.
b. I dislike your finding fault with me.
2. a. I remember Sam forgetting the carfare.
b. I remember Sam’s forgetting the carfare
3. a. I could visualize him winning the oratorical contest.
b. I could visualize his winning the oratorical contest.
INFINITIVE An infinitive is a verb form ordinarily introduced by to. It is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Some infinitives of carry are to carry, to have carried, to be carried, to be carrying, to have been carrying, to have been carrying.
Noun: In Colorado we plan to ride one of the last narrow – gauge passenger trains in America. (To ride is the object of the verb plan.)
Adjective: The first steam locomotive actually to work was built in 1801 by a Cornish mine operator. (To work modifies the noun locomotive.)
Adverb: Go to Alabama to find a wood-burning steam locomotive still in operation. (To find modifies the verb go.)
To, the sign of the infinitive, is often omitted after bid, dare, feel, hear, help, let, make, need, please, see, and sometimes after a few other verbs.
Please come. No one dares begin without you.
INFINITIVE PHRASE An infinitive and the words which modify it or complete its meaning form an infinitive phrase.
1. To know the truth is to be free.
The infinitive phrase to know the truth is the subject of the verb is. Truth is the object of to know. To be free is an infinitive phrase used as a predicate noun. Free is a predicate adjective.
2. With a few repairs a Baldwin locomotive built in 1836 was able to give reliable service at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1949.
The infinitive phrase to give reliable service at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1949 is used as an adverb modifying the predicate adjective able. Service is the direct object of to give.4
SUBJECT OF INFINITIVE After verbs of believing, commanding, expecting, knowing, letting, making, telling, Thinking, wishing, and the like, the infinitive may have a subject. The subject of the infinitive is in the objective case.
The friendly Indians wanted the first Spanish explorers of California to stay.
The first Spanish explorers of California are the subject of the infinitive to stay. The infinitive phrase the first Spanish explorers of California to stay is the object of the verb wanted.
PRACTICE 25 Explaining Infinitives
Diagram the following sentences
OR Copy every infinitive and explain its use.
A. 1. To be great is to be misunderstood.-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2. I’d like to go with you.
3. To procrastinate is to put off action.
4. Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be our national bird.
B. 1. The first spot in the nation to fly officially the American flag with forty-ninth stars was Fort McHenry.
2. At this fort near Baltimore, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write our national anthem.
3. To display the American Flag Day and night is a special privilege.
4. A 1948 proclamation permits Fort McHenry National Monument to fly the flag day and night.
PRACTICE 26 Recognizing Verbals
Copy every verbal in the following sentences. Draw one line under a participle, a wavy line under a gerund, and a broken line under an infinitive. Copy the whole participle, whether it is one, two, or three words. Include sign to of the infinitive if it is expressed.
THE OLD-TIME PEDDLER
A. 1. A scene in the famous musical Oklahoma! Shows a Yankee peddler arriving at a farmhouse. 2. Everyone gathers around enthusiastically to greet this visitor from the world outside.3. For two centuries this scene was reenacted in pioneer villages depending in part upon the products delivered by the peddler. 4. By transporting necessary goods to distant farms, the peddlers helped to settle new territories. 5. Some peddlers and most medicine men undoubtedly helped to give all a bad name. 6. Yet the solid contributions made by these adventurers must be acknowledged.
7. Limited by the weight and bulk of the objects, the peddlers still managed to carry a surprising number of items 8. They usually tried to stock household items like pots, pans, nails, thread, buttons, scissors, combs, ribbons and mirrors. B. 1. Pioneer women, surrounded by homemade products, longed to own a bit of fancy lace or to serve exotic foods like coffee and tea. 2. Some peddlers even managed to peddle wagons and carriages, making a train of them. 3. After making a sale, the peddler often found himself carrying a still heavier load, because of his having to take farm products in barter.
4. Traveling through ankle-deep mud or knee-deep snow, and plagued by insects, unfriendly dogs, and Indians, the man still persisted. 5. Why did the peddler undertake to deliver these materials under such bad conditions? 6. Starting with little capital, the peddler was often able to make his fortune and to save enough for early retirement. 7. Some came upon remote villages destined to become important cities and stayed there. 8. In hundreds of cities businesses established by peddlers are still flourishing.
VERBALS FOR CONCISENESS Where possible, use verbals for vivid, concise expression.
Wordy: My parents took me to Georgia Tech in order that I might see the campus.
Concise-using infinitive: My parents took me to Georgia Tech to see the campus.
Wordy: Study more frequently and for shorter periods. In this way you can avoid examination panic.
Concise-using gerund: By studying more frequently and for shorter periods, you can avoid examination panic.
Wordy is perched high in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia. It is the highest of the world’s great lakes.
Concise-using participle: Titicaca perched high in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, is the highest of the world’s great lakes.
PARTICIPLE 27 Using Verbals for Conciseness
By introducing participles, gerunds, and infinitives, improve the following by making them more concise. Use the preceding examples as guides.
1. We had two hours in which we might finish the test.
2. You will find The Caine Mutiny. It is lying on my desk near the lamp.
3. Next year I’m taking driver education in order that I might get my license earlier.
4. We spent an entire morning at the abandoned mine. We did not find a single quartz crystal. (Suggestion: use without)
5. Betty retraced her steps. She looked for the missing ring.
6. The inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha. Left their lonely island home because of a volcanic eruption. Then they settled England.
7. Uncle Ben promised that he would take us to Chaves Ravine for a Dodger game.
8. Robert put out his own mimeographed newspaper. In this way he earned money for college.
9. The annual fireworks display was originally scheduled for July 4. Because of the rain it was postponed to July 5.
10. After an hour at the fine arts exhibit I decided that I should try Japanese sumi painting.5
PRACTICE 28 Correcting sentence Fragments
Two of the following are correct. Eight include sentence fragments in which a verbal is used instead of a predicate verb. Find the fragments and either change a verbal to a predicate verb or attach the fragment to the sentence.
1. Buster Keaton`s The General was an excellent picture. A silent film made in the Twenties and still funny today.
2. The Academy Awards issued for outstanding performances and contributions to the American movies.
3. Dad confessed to a secret ambition as a youngster. To climb the Matterhorn.
4. The lake was alive with brightly colored motorboats pulling enthusiastic water skiers.
5. An exciting piece of Navaho jewelry made of silver, turquoise, and petrified rock.
6. Butter made for at least four thousand years and sometimes used as a food by primitive people.
7. The first people to use fingerprinting, the Chinese, applied thumbprints as seals on legal documents.
8. A new plastic developed by the Ideal Company and, never before offered to the public.
9. The photograph showed Shibam in Aden, A skyscraper city built of sunbaked mud bricks.
10. Tony explained the derivation of piano, or pianoforte. The latter word meaning originally «soft, loud.»
PRACTICE 29 Putting Verbals to Work
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