Participle, Gerund and Infinitive
Printable Worksheets 

Diagram Gerund And Infinitive Words And Phrases

The concepts of the participle, gerund and infinitive can all be taught within a few quick lessons. The main thing is to learn a new way to use a familiar word or phrase. Make it an adventure!

See our easy explanations and definitions with printable gerund worksheets below. Jump down to our manuscript and cursive worksheets with these links:

1. Gerunds (nouns)
2. Participles (adjectives)
3. Infinitives (nouns)

Many English words can each be used as different parts of speech. This is part of what is tricky for those new to learning English Grammar. It can be tricky for the rest of us, too. 

Participle, Gerund and Infinitive Worksheets:

English Grammar teaches the various uses of words that are often the very same words with the same spellings in other uses.

It's the function of the word or words in a sentence that determines its label. So here is how to define gerund, participle, and infinitive uses.

English Grammar Definition Of Gerund

• Gerund - A gerund is a verb that is used as a noun and is formed by adding -ing. The joy of cooking is yours. “Cooking” is the object of the preposition of and is used like a noun.

Definition of Participle In Grammar

• Participles - A participle is a verb that is used as an adjective. Katie, searching, found the tent. Searching is a verb used like an adjective.

Definition Of Infinitive

• Infinitive Verb Form - An infinitive is a verb that is used as a noun often preceded by to, that has the suffix -ing only in the progressive form. It names an action. It is too warm to skate. The words to skate form the infinitive verb used like a noun.

Use our diagram charts and diagramming worksheets to "see" how these terms are used, where they fit in sentences and the difference between a gerund and infinitive.

See all our PrintNPractice printables in affordable bundles here .

1. Printable Gerund Worksheets For Kids

Printable Gerund Definitions Worksheet

A gerund is a verb that is used as a noun and is formed by adding -ing. 

The difference between a gerund and an infinitive is the word structure and how the word is used. Note that the black text is gray in the worksheet exercises.

If the infinitive is used, the word structure generally includes the word "to" in front of the verb. See infinitive worksheets in section three.

Next are

• Three gerund worksheets in manuscript handwriting, then 
• Three in cursive writing.

1.A. Manuscript Handwriting Gerund Worksheets

Simple Manuscript Gerund Worksheets

Gerunds as Subject, Objects, Complements Worksheet

Manuscript Gerund Phrases Worksheet

1.B. Cursive Gerund Worksheets

Simple Cursive Printable Gerund Worksheet

Gerunds as Subject, Objects, Complements Cursive Worksheet

Cursive Gerund Phrases Worksheet

2. Participle Worksheets With Answers

What Is A Participle?

A participle is a verb that is used as an adjective.

• Katie, searching, found the tent.

The word "searching" is a verb used like an adjective.

This is very similar to gerunds where verbs are being used as nouns.

When children are learning about the gerund and infinitive, it's good to teach the participle as they're already looking for different uses of verb forms.

These worksheets offer participle practice so the answers are already included.

• The first set offers copywork of the definition so kids "get to know it" better. 
• The next sets show participles where the verb is used as an adjective.
• The next shows irregular endings.
• And the last shows present participial phrases that use -ing.

Participle Reference Sheet

Participle Definitions Copywork Sheets

2.A. Manuscript Writing Participle Worksheets

Easy Manuscript Participle Worksheets With Answers

Participles as Adjectives Worksheet

Participles with Irregular Endings as Adjectives Worksheet

Elementary School Present Participial Phrases With -ing Worksheet

2.B. Cursive Participle Worksheets

Cursive Participle Worksheets With Answers

Participles as Adjectives Cursive Handwriting Worksheet

Cursive Irregular Participle Endings as Adjectives Worksheet

Cursive Present Participial Phrases with -ing Exercise

3. Printable Infinitive Phrase Worksheets

An infinitive phrase is a verb that is used as a noun and is often preceded by “the word "to" which makes it an infinitive phrase. Other languages have this included in their base form of the infinitive. In English we use the two words: "to" plus a verb.

An infinitive names an action or state of being.

It is good to skate.

The words to skate” form the infinitive verb used as a noun and can be used in several parts of speech: subject, object, etc.

Knowing the infinitive form of a word in English is very helpful when learning a second language, because many other languages use a suffix, or an ending, to indicate the infinitive verb as with French infinitives. It takes two words in English to form the infinitive: "to" + verb.

For example: In English we have the word "to" in front of the verb as in "to be", "to do", "to make". This is the root or the base form of the verb. For example:

• The infinitive verb for am/are/is/was/were is "to be". It is also called the full infinitive or the infinitive phrase.

What is a split infinitive?

• A split infinitive has an adverb in between the word "to" and the verb. The infinitive phrase is "split" by the adverb or other word. 

Example of a split infinitive: Where the infinitve might be "to go" one could split the infinitive with an adverb describing the verb.

"To boldly go..."

A sentence example of a split infinitive in a sentence might be,

"She continued to briskly shake the cloth."

There is some controversy as it is thought by some that one should not split the infinitive. In some other languages this would be impossible because an infinitive is one word.

One could not insert the adverb into the word; yet because the English infinitive is in two words, it is possible to add an adverb.

My opinion? I think that a split infinitive can add emphasis or be more descriptive.

3.A. Manuscript Infinitive Phrase Worksheets

Infinitives as Subjects Printable Grammar Worksheet

Infinitives as Different Parts of Speech Grammar Worksheet

Infinitive Phrase Worksheet

3.B. Cursive Infinitive Phrase Worksheets

Cursive Infinitives as Subjects Worksheet

Cursive Infinitive As Different Parts Of Speech Worksheet

Cursive Infinitive Phrases Worksheet

Our super helpful Sentence Diagramming Charts can help children discern "at a glance" between a gerund and infinitive:

• Diagramming Worksheets and Charts
• Verb Worksheets
• Grammar Worksheets

Thank you for visiting our participle, gerund and infinitive worksheets.

~Mary