Verbals Practice Test: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives
This quiz helps you spot and use verbals - gerunds, participles, and infinitives - in real sentences. Check your understanding with instant feedback, then keep going with a gerunds and infinitives quiz, try to identify the gerund in sentences, or focus on forms with a past participle quiz.
Study Outcomes
- Identify Types of Verbals -
Pinpoint gerunds, infinitives, and participles in sentences to build a solid understanding of what verbals are in grammar.
- Differentiate Verbal Functions -
Distinguish how each type of verbal operates - whether as a noun, adjective, or adverb - to master types of verbals.
- Analyze Verbals in Context -
Examine sample sentences to see verbals at work and recognize their specific roles within complex structures.
- Apply Verbals in Your Writing -
Use verbals accurately in your own sentences, reinforcing your skills through practical verbals practice.
- Evaluate and Correct Usage -
Detect common errors in verbal usage and learn strategies to revise sentences for clarity and grammatical precision.
- Strengthen Grammar Confidence -
Receive instant feedback from the quiz results to boost your writing confidence and master verbals practice test challenges.
Cheat Sheet
- Defining Verbals and the GIP Mnemonic -
Verbals are non-finite verb forms that act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence, answering the question "what are verbals in grammar." Remember the GIP mnemonic - Gerunds, Infinitives, and Participles - to recall all three main types of verbals when you take a verbals practice test. University linguistics courses (e.g., MIT OpenCourseWare) often start here to build a solid foundation.
- Gerunds as Nouns -
A gerund is a verbal ending in - ing that functions as a noun; for instance, "Swimming is fun" uses a gerund as the subject. In your practice with verbals, test by substituting the gerund with a pronoun (e.g., "it") - if it still makes sense, you have a noun. Sources like Purdue OWL highlight this key test in their grammar verbals sections.
- Infinitives in Multiple Roles -
An infinitive is the "to" + base form of a verb and can serve as a noun ("To write is therapy"), adjective ("a book to read"), or adverb ("He paused to think"). When you review for a verbals practice test, categorize each infinitive by asking "Why?" or "Which one?" to identify its function. Cambridge Grammar of the English Language provides detailed role breakdowns that align with this approach.
- Present vs. Past Participles -
Participles are used as adjectives: present participles end in - ing ("the rising sun"), while past participles often end in - ed or - en ("the broken vase"). In a types of verbals quiz, look for these endings modifying nouns to spot participles. The University of Chicago's grammar guide offers clear charts contrasting participle forms and uses.
- Distinguishing Verbals from Verbs -
A common trap in grammar verbals is confusing gerunds or participles with main verbs; for example, "Running water" is a participle phrase, while "Water is running" uses a main verb. To practice with verbals, try removing the verbal phrase - if the core sentence still stands, you've identified a verbal correctly. Harvard Writing Center exercises often employ this removal strategy in verbals practice.