1.7 Using Verbals in Complex Sentences
On the previous page, the three types of verbals were itemized, and tips on how to use them correctly in simple sentences were provided. On this page, how and why to use verbal phrases in various sentences are explained.
Why Use Verbals in Business Communication
Front-loading participle phrases
Using a participle at the beginning of a sentence is an effective way to represent “causes”.
Examples of Front-loading Participle Phrases
Creating a well-functioning team, Evelyn was able to harness individual employees’ strengths.
Being a native Mandarin speaker, Edwin Fong deftly presented our company’s goals during last week’s conference in Beijing.
Producing no green-house gas emissions, electric cars offer drivers an eco-friendly option.
Having spent a year improving the functionality of our smart watch, I am confident that we can now compete with Apple.
Prized for its anti-toxin qualities, the acai berry has hit the North American market by storm.
Back-loading participles phrases
Using a participle at the end of a sentence is an effective way to represent “effects”.
Examples of Back-loading Participle Phrases
Indigenous entrepreneurship is and will continue to grow in the next decade, making it a critical part of Canada’s economy.
Several no chip and PIN cards are susceptible to security breaches, causing many users apprehension.
The city of Toronto is re-developing its waterfront, potentially creating thousands of new jobs.
Video conferencing apps allow for employees to connect with others face-to-face virtually, creating a cost-effective alternative to traditional business meetings.
Infinitive phrases
Infinitive phrases are particularly useful for making requests because the writer can begin the request with the benefit.
Examples of Front-loading Infinitive Phrases
To redeem your discount coupon, click on the link below.
To do your part in helping save energy, please turn off the office lights when you leave.
Exercises
Activity: Creating Sentences Using Verbals
The following article was retrieved from The History Channel website.
First, read the article.
Then, complete Part 1 of this activity.
The Barbie doll makes its debut
On March 9, 1959, the first Barbie doll goes on display at the American Toy Fair in New York City.
Eleven inches tall, with a waterfall of blond hair, Barbie was the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States with adult features. The woman behind Barbie was Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel, Inc. with her husband in 1945. After seeing her young daughter ignore her baby dolls to play make-believe with paper dolls of adult women, Handler realized there was an important niche in the market for a toy that allowed little girls to imagine the future.
Barbie’s appearance was modeled on a doll named Lilli, based on a German comic strip character. Originally marketed as a racy gag gift to adult men in tobacco shops, the Lilli doll later became extremely popular with children. Mattel bought the rights to Lilli and made its own version, which Handler named after her daughter, Barbara. With its sponsorship of the “Mickey Mouse Club” TV program in 1955, Mattel became one of the first toy companies to broadcast commercials to children. They used this medium to promote their new toy, and by 1961, the enormous consumer demand for the doll led Mattel to release a boyfriend for Barbie. Handler named him Ken, after her son. Barbie’s best friend, Midge, came out in 1963; her little sister, Skipper, debuted the following year.
Over the years, Barbie generated huge sales—and a lot of controversy. On the positive side, many women saw Barbie as providing an alternative to traditional 1950s gender roles. She has had a series of different jobs, from airline stewardess, doctor, pilot and astronaut to Olympic athlete and even U.S. presidential candidate. Others thought Barbie’s never-ending supply of designer outfits, cars and “Dream Houses” encouraged kids to be materialistic. It was Barbie’s appearance that caused the most controversy, however. Her tiny waist and enormous breasts–it was estimated that if she were a real woman, her measurements would be 36-18-38–led many to claim that Barbie provided little girls with an unrealistic and harmful example and fostered negative body image.
Despite the criticism, sales of Barbie-related merchandise continued to soar, topping 1 billion dollars annually by 1993. Since 1959, over one billion dolls in the Barbie family have been sold around the world and Barbie is now a bona fide global icon.
Part 1: Using the information gleaned from the article, complete the sentences to show cause.
- Realizing that her daughter wanted to play with paper dolls of adult women,
- Modeling Barbie’s appearance after a racy gag gift,
- Expanding on the positive response from the Mickey Mouse club,
- Responding to enormous consumer demand,
- Providing an alternative to traditional 1950s gender roles,
- Providing unrealistic examples of the female body,
Part 2: Reread the article. Then, match each cause with its effect. Finally, combine the two sentences using a verbal phrase.
Example: 1d, Barbie’s measurements are an unrealistic 36-18-38, making her a harmful role model.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1. Barbie’s measurements are an unrealistic 36-18-38 | a. This triggered her to create the Barbie doll. |
| 2. Ruth Handler noticed her daughter preferred to play with paper cut-outs of women. | b. It resulted in the release of Ken and Midge. |
| 3. By 1961, the demand for Barbie was huge. | c. They have topped 1 billion dollars annually since 1993. |
| 4. Barbie disrupted the traditional 1950s perception of gender-appropriate occupations. | d. This makes her a harmful role model. |
| 5. Barbie doll sales have continued to soar. | e. She worked as a doctor and as a pilot. |
References
History.com Editors. (2021, March 10). The Barbie doll makes its debut. History. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/barbie-makes-her-debut