Gerunds, participles and infinitives

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   [To finish the mural] took the whole club three weekends. Kira marks the bracketed words in a sentence frame. What job do they do?

   • adverb
   • noun
   • adjective
   • main verb
2. 2.

   The crew stopped [to tighten the ropes]. Luz marks the bracketed words in a sentence frame. What job do they do?

   • noun
   • main verb
   • adverb
   • adjective
3. 3.

   [Pedaling hard up the hill], the cyclists reached the top. Milo marks the bracketed words in a sentence frame. What job do they do?

   • main verb
   • noun
   • adverb
   • adjective
4. 4.

   The crowd [was waving] flags at the finish line. Noah marks the bracketed words in a sentence frame. What job do they do?

   • main verb
   • adverb
   • adjective
   • noun
5. 5.

   Four sentences from the blog use forms of the verb paint. Ren searches a class blog for one kind of verbal. Which sentence uses a participle, a verb form working as a describing word?

   • Painting the old fence took the whole Saturday.
   • The painted fence gleamed in the sun.
   • The crew painted the old fence last week.
   • The crew hopes to paint the fence this week.
6. 6.

   Four sentences from the blog use forms of the verb sing. Tala searches a class blog for one kind of verbal. Which sentence uses a gerund, an -ing verb form working as a noun?

   • Singing in the rain made the choir giggle.
   • The choir wants to sing a new song tonight.
   • The choir is singing a new song tonight.
   • The singing choir marched onto the stage.
7. 7.

   Four sentences from the blog use forms of the verb bake. Zee searches a class blog for one kind of verbal. Which sentence uses a participle, a verb form working as a describing word?

   • The baked bread cooled on the rack.
   • The baker baked a loaf of bread.
   • The baker plans to bake bread today.
   • Baking bread takes patience and time.

8. Read this first

   Use this

   Four sentences from the guide; each has the word to or a verb form.

9. 8.

   Ari searches a hiking guide for an infinitive (to plus a verb). Which sentence has one?

   • The scouts stopped to read the trail map.
   • The scouts studied the torn map closely.
   • Reading the trail map took a minute.
   • The scouts walked to the trail map.
10. 9.

    Bo searches a hiking guide for an infinitive (to plus a verb). Which sentence has one?

    • The guide held a folded map carefully.
    • Reaching the summit took until noon.
    • The guide led the group to the summit.
    • The guide hoped to reach the summit by noon.
11. 10.

    Jun searches a hiking guide for an infinitive (to plus a verb). Which sentence has one?

    • The ferry slowed to enter the harbor.
    • The docked ferry rocked gently.
    • Docking the ferry takes real skill.
    • The ferry sailed to the harbor.