Verbal’s are verb forms that do not act as verbs in a sentence. Instead, they function as other parts of speech, such as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Despite their verb-like appearance, they do not express action in the way that normal verbs do. The three main types of verbal’s in English are infinitives, participles, and gerunds.
Infinitive:
Definition:
An infinitive is the basic, unaltered form of a verb, often preceded by the word “to.” For example, “to run,” “to sing,” and “to write” are all infinitives. Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences.
How to Form:
- Bare infinitive: The verb without “to” (e.g., “run,” “eat”).
- Full infinitive: “To” + base form of the verb (e.g., “to run,” “to eat”).
Position of Infinitives in a Sentence:
Infinitives (the base form of a verb, usually preceded by “to”) can appear in various positions within a sentence, depending on their grammatical role. Here are the common positions in which infinitives are used:
1. Infinitive as the Subject of a Sentence
An infinitive can act as the subject of a sentence, often placed at the beginning.
Examples:
- To read is enjoyable.
- To exercise regularly is important for health.
In these examples, the infinitives “to read” and “to exercise” serve as the subject of the sentence.
2. Infinitive as the Object of a Verb
Infinitives often function as the direct object of certain verbs. In this case, the infinitive follows the verb.
Examples:
- She wants to learn Spanish.
- He agreed to help with the project.
Here, “to learn” and “to help” are the objects of the verbs “wants” and “agreed.”
3. Infinitive as a Subject Complement
When used as a subject complement, the infinitive follows a linking verb (like “is,” “was,” etc.) and renames or identifies the subject.
Examples:
- His dream is to travel the world.
- Her goal was to finish the race.
The infinitives “to travel” and “to finish” describe or complement the subjects “dream” and “goal.”
4. Infinitive as the Object of a Noun or Adjective
Infinitives can follow certain nouns and adjectives, providing additional detail about them.
Examples:
- She had a chance to win the competition. (Infinitive after a noun)
- He was eager to start the project. (Infinitive after an adjective)
In these examples, the infinitives “to win” and “to start” modify the noun “chance” and the adjective “eager.”
5. Infinitive as an Adverb (Expressing Purpose)
Infinitives can also function as adverbs, often explaining why something happens or providing a reason. In these cases, the infinitive usually appears after the main verb.
Examples:
- She went to the store to buy groceries.
- They stayed late to finish their work.
In these sentences, the infinitives “to buy” and “to finish” express the purpose of the actions.
6. Infinitive After Certain Verbs + Object (Causative Construction)
Certain verbs such as “ask,” “tell,” and “want” are followed by an object and an infinitive.
Examples:
- She asked him to leave.
- They told the children to be quiet.
Here, the infinitives follow the verbs “asked” and “told,” after their objects “him” and “the children.”
7. Infinitive After “Too” or “Enough”
Infinitives can also appear after expressions with “too” and “enough.”
Examples:
- He is too tired to work.
- She was strong enough to lift the box.
In these sentences, the infinitives follow “too” or “enough” to complete the idea.
uses:
Here’s a table of different uses of infinitives with examples:
| Use of Infinitive | Example |
|---|---|
| To express purpose | She went to the store to buy some groceries. |
| To express a desire or intention | He wants to learn French. |
| As the subject of a sentence | To exercise regularly is important for health. |
| As an adjective to describe a noun | I have a book to read before class. |
| As an adverb to describe an adjective | She was happy to help with the project. |
| To express a reason or motivation | He paused to take a deep breath. |
| After certain verbs (e.g., decide, try) | They decided to leave early. |
| To show what something can be used for | This is a tool to measure distances. |
| With adjectives to express a feeling | It’s exciting to travel to new places. |
| With “too” or “enough” for result | She was too tired to continue studying. |
| With question words (who, what, etc.) | I don’t know what to say in response. |
| After “would like,” “want,” “hope” | I would like to see the new movie. |
| After certain nouns | His decision to leave surprised everyone. |
| In passive constructions | The homework needs to be done by tomorrow. |
| To show an obligation or necessity | I have to finish this project by the deadline. |
List of common verbs that are typically followed by infinitives (the “to + verb” form), along with example sentences:
| Verb | Example with Infinitive |
|---|---|
| Agree | She agreed to help with the project. |
| Decide | We decided to leave early. |
| Hope | He hopes to get a promotion. |
| Plan | They plan to travel next summer. |
| Promise | She promised to call him later. |
| Learn | I learned to swim when I was young. |
| Offer | He offered to drive us to the airport. |
| Want | I want to finish this book. |
| Expect | She expects to win the race. |
| Choose | We chose to stay at home. |
| Refuse | He refused to give up. |
| Attempt | She attempted to climb the mountain. |
| Manage | He managed to solve the puzzle. |
| Need | I need to rest after the long day. |
| Ask | She asked to speak to the manager. |
| Seem | He seems to enjoy his work. |
| Appear | She appears to be very happy. |
| Prepare | He prepared to give a speech. |
| Begin | I began to understand the problem. |
| Continue | She continued to work despite the noise. |
| Pretend | He pretended to be asleep. |
| Promise | She promised to keep it a secret. |
| Fail | They failed to complete the task. |
| Afford | I can’t afford to buy a new car right now. |
| Aim | We aim to reduce expenses this year. |
| Arrange | She arranged to meet him at noon. |
| Attempt | He attempted to fix the issue. |
| Decide | They decided to try again. |
| Desire | I desire to make a change in my life. |
Participles:
What is a Participle?
A participle is a verb form that is used as an adjective or to form certain tenses in English. Participles come in two varieties: present participles (ending in “-ing”) and past participles (usually ending in “-ed” for regular verbs, but often irregular for others, like “written” or “broken”).
How to Form:
- Present participle: Add “-ing” to the base form of the verb (e.g., “running,” “eating”).
- Past participle: Regular verbs usually add -ed (e.g., “played,” “walked”), while irregular verbs have specific forms (e.g., “written,” “drunk”).
Position of participles in a Sentence:
In English, participles can occupy various positions in a sentence, depending on the function they serve. Here’s a breakdown of common positions and examples:
1. At the Beginning of a Sentence
- Present Participle (usually describes an action happening at the same time as the main verb)
- Running quickly, he caught the bus.
- Past Participle (often indicates a condition or reason)
- Exhausted by the workout, she sat down to rest.
2. Before the Main Verb (as an Adjective)
- Participles can function as adjectives when placed before the noun they modify.
- Present Participle
- The burning candle flickered in the dark.
- Past Participle
- The broken vase lay on the floor.
3. After the Main Verb (as Part of a Compound Verb)
- In perfect and passive constructions, past participles combine with auxiliary verbs.
- Past Participle
- She has finished her homework.
- The book was written by an expert.
4. Following the Noun (as a Post-Modifier)
- This structure provides additional information about the noun.
- Present Participle
- The students studying in the library are very focused.
- Past Participle
- The car parked in front of the house is mine.
5. After the Object (as a Result or Reason)
- Often used in causative constructions or with certain verbs.
- Present Participle
- He left the door standing open.
- Past Participle
- She got her hair dyed.
6. In Reduced Relative Clauses
- Participles can reduce relative clauses for brevity.
- Present Participle
- The person living next door is a doctor. (instead of who lives next door)
- Past Participle
- The book written by her became a bestseller. (instead of which was written by her).
Uses:
| Participle Type | Use | Position in Sentence | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present Participle (-ing) | As part of the continuous tense | After auxiliary verbs (be, am, is, are, was, were) | Used to form continuous or progressive tenses. | “She is running fast.” |
| Present Participle (-ing) | As an adjective | Before or after the noun it describes | Adds description to a noun, giving it a characteristic or quality. | “The crying baby woke up.” |
| Present Participle (-ing) | In participial phrases | At the beginning or end of a sentence | Provides additional information about the subject or action in the main clause. | “Walking down the street, he saw a cat.” |
| Present Participle (-ing) | After verbs of perception (see, hear, feel) | After perception verbs | Describes an action that is seen, heard, or felt as it happens. | “I saw him running down the hill.” |
| Present Participle (-ing) | In reduced relative clauses | After the noun it modifies | Replaces a relative clause to make sentences more concise. | “The man standing by the door is my uncle.” |
| Past Participle (-ed or irregular form) | In perfect tenses | After auxiliary verbs (have, has, had) | Used to form perfect tenses, showing completed actions. | “She has finished her work.” |
| Past Participle (-ed or irregular form) | As an adjective | Before or after the noun it describes | Describes the state or condition of a noun. | “The broken window needs fixing.” |
| Past Participle (-ed or irregular form) | In passive voice | After auxiliary verbs (be, am, is, are, was, were) | Forms passive sentences, showing that the subject receives the action. | “The book was written by her.” |
| Past Participle (-ed or irregular form) | In participial phrases | At the beginning or end of a sentence | Adds information, often explaining the reason or condition of the main action. | “Confused by the instructions, he asked for help.” |
| Past Participle (-ed or irregular form) | In reduced relative clauses | After the noun it modifies | Replaces a relative clause in passive constructions. | “The cake baked yesterday was delicious.” |
List of common verbs that are often followed by present or past participles. These participles are generally used in expressions that describe ongoing actions, experiences, or passive states.
| Verb | Followed by Present Participle (verb+ing) | Followed by Past Participle (verb+ed/en) |
|---|---|---|
| Catch | I caught him stealing. | – |
| Find | She found her cat sleeping on the sofa. | – |
| Leave | He left me waiting in the rain. | – |
| See | I saw her walking to work. | He was seen walking into the building. |
| Hear | We heard them singing outside. | He was heard singing by the neighbors. |
| Keep | She keeps us entertained with her stories. | – |
| Catch | They caught him cheating on the test. | – |
| Watch | I watched them dancing. | They were watched dancing by the crowd. |
| Leave | She left the lights shining all night. | – |
| Imagine | I imagine her succeeding in her career. | – |
| Get | We got the car repaired. | – |
| Keep | She kept him waiting for an hour. | – |
| Observe | I observed him working on the project. | He was observed working late into the night. |
| Have | She had us laughing with her jokes. | I had my hair cut yesterday. |
| Notice | I noticed him leaving early. | He was noticed leaving the office. |
| Feel | I felt the ground shaking. | – |
| Set | He set the plan in motion. | – |
| Get | She got her car fixed. | – |
| Send | He sent them running for cover. | – |
| Leave | We left the door open. | – |
Gerunds:
What is a Gerund?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun in a sentence. Gerunds are unique because they retain verb-like properties while behaving grammatically as nouns.
How to Form:
- Add “-ing” to the base form of the verb (e.g., “running,” “eating”).
Position of participles in a Sentence:
Gerunds (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun) can appear in several positions within a sentence. Here’s a list of common gerund positions, with examples:
1. As the Subject of a Sentence
- A gerund can act as the subject, describing an action or activity as a noun.
- Reading books is her favorite hobby.
- Swimming every morning keeps him fit.
2. As the Object of a Verb
- Gerunds can serve as the direct object of certain verbs.
- She enjoys painting landscapes.
- They avoid eating junk food.
3. As the Object of a Preposition
- When a gerund follows a preposition, it acts as the object of that preposition.
- He’s good at solving puzzles.
- They talked about going to the beach.
4. As the Subject Complement
- Gerunds can function as a subject complement (also called a predicate noun) after linking verbs.
- Her passion is dancing.
- The main issue is getting there on time.
5. As the Object of a Possessive
- Sometimes, gerunds are used as the object of a possessive pronoun.
- I appreciate your helping me with the project.
- His singing is really impressive.
6. In Appositive Phrases
- Gerunds can appear in appositive phrases, renaming a noun with further detail.
- Her goal, finishing the marathon, was finally achieved.
- Their job, managing the project, required great skill.
7. After Certain Expressions or Phrases
- Some fixed expressions are commonly followed by gerunds.
- I’m interested in learning Spanish.
- They look forward to meeting you.
Uses:
| Gerund Use | Position in Sentence | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| As a Subject | Beginning of a sentence | Acts as the subject of the sentence, describing an action or activity. | “Swimming is good exercise.” |
| As an Object | After certain verbs | Follows verbs that are often followed by gerunds (e.g., enjoy, avoid, finish). | “She enjoys reading novels.” |
| As an Object of a Preposition | After a preposition | Gerunds often follow prepositions, as they are treated like nouns. | “He’s interested in learning Spanish.” |
| As a Subject Complement | After linking verbs (e.g., “is”) | Completes the meaning of the subject, often in sentences with linking verbs. | “Her hobby is painting.” |
| In Compound Nouns | Before a noun | Forms compound nouns, where the gerund acts like an adjective. | “I need new swimming gear.” |
| After Possessive Pronouns | After possessives (e.g., my, his) | Follows possessive pronouns to show ownership of an activity. | “I appreciate your helping me.” |
| In Gerund Phrases | At the beginning or end of a sentence | Acts as a noun phrase that includes additional details about the action. | “Driving in heavy traffic is stressful.” |
List of common verbs that are typically followed by gerunds (the “-ing” form of the verb), along with example sentences:
| Verb | Example with Gerund |
|---|---|
| Enjoy | She enjoys reading novels. |
| Avoid | He avoids talking about politics. |
| Consider | They considered moving to a new city. |
| Discuss | We discussed going on a trip together. |
| Dislike | She dislikes cleaning the kitchen. |
| Imagine | I imagine living near the beach. |
| Keep | He keeps forgetting his keys. |
| Miss | I miss seeing my friends regularly. |
| Practice | She practices playing the piano every day. |
| Suggest | He suggested meeting at the coffee shop. |
| Recommend | They recommended taking the earlier train. |
| Risk | She risks losing her job if she’s late again. |
| Finish | I finished writing my report. |
| Quit | He quit smoking last year. |
| Delay | She delayed making a decision. |
| Deny | He denied taking the money. |
| Mention | She mentioned going to the event. |
| Appreciate | I appreciate having your support. |
| Avoid | They avoid eating junk food. |
| Admit | He admitted cheating on the test. |
| Resist | She couldn’t resist buying that dress. |
| Mind | Do you mind closing the door? |
| Celebrate | We celebrated winning the championship. |
| Postpone | They postponed going on vacation. |
| Suggest | She suggested trying a new restaurant. |
| Anticipate | I anticipate meeting her soon. |
| Imagine | Can you imagine living on a farm? |
conclusion:
In English, verbals—infinitives, gerunds, and participles—play a unique role by allowing verbs to function as other parts of speech, such as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Each verbal form brings versatility and depth to sentence structure. Gerunds function as nouns, often describing actions or activities in various syntactical roles. Infinitives, often beginning with “to,” can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, expressing purpose, intention, or abstract ideas. Participles, with their present (-ing) and past (-ed or irregular) forms, typically act as adjectives or parts of verb phrases, adding descriptive detail to sentences.
