A verbal phrase consists of a verbal and all of its modifiers and objects. Since verbals come from verbs, they take on all of the characteristics of verbs. And since verbals function as other parts of speech, they also take on the characteristics of those parts of speech.
Shopping at her favorite stores, Samantha spent her entire paycheck. (The bolded phrase is a participial phrase because it functions as an adjective modifying Samantha.)
Shopping on line is Samantha’s favorite pastime. (The bolded phrase is a gerund phrase because it functions as the subject of the sentence; it is, therefore, a noun.)
Samantha loves to shop for bargains. (The bolded phrase is an infinitive phrase because the word to precedes the verb. The infinitive is functioning as a direct object.)
Click here for a challenge exercise on Verbal phrases.