Mastering Verbal’s: Infinitives, Participles, and Gerunds

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:

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.