A participial phrase consists of a participle plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s)’. An earlier column discussed gerunds which, basically, are verbs with the ‘ing’ ending.

The sentence; “You can’t avoid to make mistakes” uses the infinitive instead of a gerund (verb form that ends in ‘ing’ and acts as a noun). Ideally, it should have been written as ...

I enjoy talking with my father. Another difficulty is that sometimes choosing the infinitive or the gerund will change the meaning of the sentence. Mary stopped eating at six. (Mary was eating, ...

In the blank box under each item, rewrite the sentence using the prepostion in parentheses. Remember that a preposition is followed by a noun phrase or a gerund. Change the meaning of the original ...