Page 586 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 586
The teller counted the bills twice and handed them to the
customer.
I ate the asparagus and avocado casserole but did not like it.
5. An infinitive ( to + present tense verb) cannot act as a verb
in a sentence.
Paulo wanted to accept the award on his brother’s behalf.
The phrase to accept is an infinitive and cannot be the main verb of
the sentence. The verb in this sentence is wanted.
Paulo wanted to accept the award on his brother’s behalf.
6. A verb form ending in -ing cannot act as a verb in a
sentence unless a helping verb precedes it.
The setting sun sank below the horizon.
Setting cannot be the verb because a helping verb does not precede
it. The verb in this sentence is sank.
The setting sun sank below the horizon.
A crowd was gathering at the scene of the accident.
