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Verbals: Gerunds & Infinitives

Eighth graders learn verbals — verb forms that act as other parts of speech — focusing on gerunds (an -ing verb used as a noun, like “swimming”) and infinitives (“to” + verb, like “to win”).

Grade 8Grammar50 minutes1 class periodReading WorkshopExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain a verbal.
  • ✓Identify a gerund.
  • ✓Identify an infinitive.
  • ✓Tell them apart.
Essential Question

In “Swimming is fun,” the word “swimming” looks like a verb — but it’s acting as a noun! Verbals are verb forms wearing a disguise. What are they?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Gerund or Infinitive?

Project this and sort each verbal into gerunds (-ing verbs used as nouns) or infinitives (to + verb).

🔤 Sort each verbal — gerund or infinitive?Try it
‑ing Gerund (acts as a noun)
to + Infinitive
Tap a verbal, then tap a bucket.
The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Connect — A Verb in Disguise

5 min

In “Swimming is fun,” “swimming” acts as a — what?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a gerund in a sentence.
  • Ask what job it does.
  • Set the goal: verbals.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read the sentence.
  • Find its job.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Teach — Gerunds & Infinitives

12 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Gerunds: -ing, act as nouns.
  • Infinitives: to + verb.
  • Show examples of each.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn gerunds.
  • Learn infinitives.
  • See examples.
3

Active Engagement — Sort Together

13 min

Class uses Gerund or Infinitive?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sort each verbal.
  • Use it in a sentence.
  • Explain its type.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort them.
  • Use one.
  • Explain it.
4

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students identify verbals.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Find verbals in sentences.
  • Name gerunds and infinitives.
  • Use each in writing.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find verbals.
  • Name them.
  • Use them.
5

Share — Share

5 min

Students share a verbal.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Invite a gerund or infinitive.
  • Explain its type.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Share one.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

CCSS
L.8.1a

Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives).

CCSS
L.8.1

Demonstrate command of standard English grammar.

CCSS
L.8.1b

Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice.

CCSS
W.8.4

Produce clear and coherent writing.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Verbal-type cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is a gerund/infinitive.”
  • Highlight the verbal.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with gerunds.
  • Look for -ing and to.
  • Sort one at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Identify participles too.
  • Use verbal phrases.
  • Find verbals in a text.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🗂️Verbal cards
  • 💻Gerund or Infinitive?
  • 🖍️Pencils
  • 📚A short passage
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

verbala verb form used as another part of speechgerundan -ing verb used as a nouninfinitive“to” plus a verbparticiplea verb form used as an adjectivenouna person, place, thing, or ideaverban action or statephrasea group of wordsfunctionthe job a word does
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a gerund?
An -ing verb form that acts as a noun (like “swimming” in “Swimming is fun”).
QUESTION 2
What is an infinitive?
“To” plus a verb (like “to run”).
QUESTION 3
In “She loves to paint,” what is the verbal and what type is it?
“To paint” — an infinitive.

Going deeper? Participles.

Have students explore participles — verb forms used as adjectives, like “the running water” or “the broken vase.” A printable verbals sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Verbals (Gerunds & Infinitives)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Verbals (Gerunds & Infinitives)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Verbals (Gerunds & Infinitives)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: function, gerund, infinitive, noun, participle, phrase, verb, verbal
  1. an -ing verb used as a noun
  2. a person, place, thing, or idea
  3. a verb form used as an adjective
  4. an action or state
  5. the job a word does
  6. a group of words
  7. a verb form used as another part of speech
  8. “to” plus a verb

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a gerund?
  2. What is an infinitive?
  3. In “She loves to paint,” what is the verbal and what type is it?
Answer key — Part A: 1) gerund · 2) noun · 3) participle · 4) verb · 5) function · 6) phrase · 7) verbal · 8) infinitive
Part B: 1) An -ing verb form that acts as a noun (like “swimming” in “Swimming is fun”). 2) “To” plus a verb (like “to run”). 3) “To paint” — an infinitive.