Gerunds, participles and infinitives

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   1: Dancing lifts everyone's mood. 2: The dancing lights spun overhead. Kira compares two sentences that share one word. What job does the word “dancing” do in each?

   • In 1: gerund. In 2: gerund.
   • In 1: participle. In 2: gerund.
   • In 1: gerund. In 2: participle.
   • In 1: gerund. In 2: main verb.
2. 2.

   1: The crew is painting the gym today. 2: Painting the gym took all weekend. Milo compares two sentences that share one word. What job does the word “painting” do in each?

   • In 1: main verb. In 2: participle.
   • In 1: main verb. In 2: main verb.
   • In 1: gerund. In 2: main verb.
   • In 1: main verb. In 2: gerund.
3. 3.

   1: The waiting passengers stood in line. 2: Waiting for the ferry gave the passengers time to read. Noah compares two sentences that share one word. What job does the word “waiting” do in each?

   • In 1: participle. In 2: gerund.
   • In 1: gerund. In 2: participle.
   • In 1: participle. In 2: main verb.
   • In 1: participle. In 2: participle.
4. 4.

   Hoping [to finish before dark], the crew worked quickly. Pia finds a verbal phrase inside a longer sentence. What job does the bracketed phrase do, and which word does it work with?

   • adverb, tells why “worked”
   • adjective, describes “crew”
   • noun, the object of “hoping”
   • noun, the subject of “worked”
5. 5.

   The crew's plan [to repaint the fence] pleased the club. Ren finds a verbal phrase inside a longer sentence. What job does the bracketed phrase do, and which word does it work with?

   • main verb, tells what the crew did
   • adverb, tells why “pleased”
   • noun, the subject of “pleased”
   • adjective, describes “plan”
6. 6.

   The crew won praise for [fixing the broken swing] before noon. Zee finds a verbal phrase inside a longer sentence. What job does the bracketed phrase do, and which word does it work with?

   • noun, the object of “for”
   • adjective, describes “praise”
   • noun, the object of “won”
   • adverb, tells how “won”
7. 7.

   The crew repaired the swings. This pleased the whole town. Ari combines two sentences from a town newsletter. Which sentence joins them with a gerund phrase as the subject?

   • The crew, repairing the swings, pleased the whole town.
   • The crew repaired the swings and pleased the whole town.
   • To repair the swings pleased the whole town.
   • Repairing the swings pleased the whole town.
8. 8.

   The baker worked at dawn. The baker hummed an old tune. Bo combines two sentences from a bakery flyer. Which sentence joins them with a participial phrase that describes the baker?

   • Humming an old tune made the baker work at dawn.
   • The baker worked at dawn to hum an old tune.
   • The baker worked at dawn and hummed an old tune.
   • Humming an old tune, the baker worked at dawn.
9. 9.

   The scouts climbed the hill. They wanted a better view of the valley. Esme combines two sentences from a camp log. Which sentence joins them with an infinitive phrase that shows the purpose?

   • Climbing the hill gave the scouts a better view of the valley.
   • The scouts climbed the hill, and they wanted a better view of the valley.
   • Wanting a better view of the valley, the scouts climbed the hill.
   • The scouts climbed the hill to get a better view of the valley.
10. 10.

    The class cleaned the whole beach. The class earned a trophy. Jun combines two sentences from a class newsletter. Which sentence joins them with a gerund phrase after a preposition?

    • The class cleaned the whole beach and earned a trophy.
    • The class earned a trophy for cleaning the whole beach.
    • The class earned a trophy to clean the whole beach.
    • Cleaning the whole beach, the class earned a trophy.