---
title: "Verbals: Gerunds, Participles and Infinitives"
description: "Explain what gerunds, participles and infinitives are and the job each does in a particular sentence: a gerund acting as a subject ('Swimming is fun'), a participle describing a noun, an infinitive ex"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/verbals-gerunds-participles-and-infinitives-mt_bz_7yQVJaw
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/verbals-gerunds-participles-and-infinitives-mt_bz_7yQVJaw.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Verbals: Gerunds, Participles and Infinitives

Explain what gerunds, participles and infinitives are and the job each does in a particular sentence: a gerund acting as a subject ('Swimming is fun'), a participle describing a noun, an infinitive expressing purpose

Subject: English · Area: Grammar & Punctuation · Ages 12 to 14
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/verbals-gerunds-participles-and-infinitives-mt_bz_7yQVJaw

## Ready when they can

- Identify a gerund and explain its role (e.g. 'running' as the subject of 'Running keeps me fit')
- Spot a participle used as an adjective (e.g. 'the broken window', 'a barking dog')
- Explain what an infinitive is doing in a sentence (e.g. 'to win' showing purpose in 'She trained to win')

## Lesson: Verbals: Gerunds, Participles and Infinitives

A verb can step out of its usual job. Add -ing to a verb and use the new word as a noun, and you get a gerund. In 'Running keeps me fit,' running names the activity - it works as the subject, just like a noun would.

*(drawing: Running is the subject of the sentence: a verb form doing a noun's job.)*

**Example.** A participle is a verb form used as an adjective, describing a noun. In 'the barking dog,' barking tells you what kind of dog it is, not what the dog is doing right now. 'A broken window' and 'tired children' work the same way: verb forms doing an adjective's job.

An infinitive is 'to' plus the base verb. It often shows purpose - the reason behind an action. In 'She trained to win,' to win answers the question 'why did she train?' The infinitive points to the goal.

**Tip.** To tell the three apart, ask what job the verb form is doing: naming a thing (gerund), describing a thing (participle), or explaining why (infinitive).

**Recap.** Gerunds name, participles describe, and infinitives explain why - same verb, three different jobs.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [The Present Perfect Tense](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/the-present-perfect-tense-mt_7D-vlii8F-)
- [Phrases & Clauses](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/phrases-and-clauses-mt_IdFxLz-UW9)

## Opens up

- [Sentence Craft for Rhythm and Emphasis](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/sentence-craft-for-rhythm-and-emphasis-mt_4opgg-pdsr)