Diagramming Verbals

Here is everything you need to know about diagramming verbals.

Be sure to check out the Sentence Diagramming Reference Manual which includes even more awesome information than you'll find on this page.

Gerunds

Gerunds are formed from verbs, but they act as nouns. They end in -ing.

Learn more about diagramming gerunds.

Diagram them on steps with the -ing part on the bottom of the step. Connect the step to the rest of the sentence diagram with a forked line.

Running is fun.

Gerund Phrases

Gerunds can take complements and modifiers. When they do, all of the words work together as a gerund phrase.

Here is a gerund phrase that contains a subject and a direct object.

diagramming gerunds

Here is how you would diagram a gerund phrase that contains a predicate noun or a predicate adjective.

sentence diagram

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Infinitives

Infinitives are formed from verbs, but they act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. They consist of the word to plus a verb.

Learn more about diagramming infinitives.

Diagram the to part of the infinitive on a slanted line. Diagram the verb part of the infinitive on a horizontal line after it.

Connect it to the rest of the sentence diagram with a forked line.

Infinitive Phrases

Infinitives can take complements and modifiers. When they do, all of the words work together to form an infinitive phrase.

subject of an infinitive

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Participles

Participles are formed from verbs, but they act as adjectives.

Diagram them on curved, slanted lines below the noun or pronoun that they modify.

Learn more about diagramming participles.

sentence diagram

Participial Phrases

Participles can take complements and modifiers. When they do, all of the words together are called a participial phrase. sentence diagram

Learn More About Participles and Participial Phrases

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