Verbals

Basic Information on Verbals Verbals are verb forms (words that look like verbs or could be verbs in other sentences) that are used as one of the following: –Noun –Adjective –Adverb A verbal can never be the verb of the sentence.

Is it a VERB or a VERBAL?? Telling the difference between a verb and a verbal is not done by looking only at the word itself. You have to see how the word is being used. In both cases, the word looks like a verb, but if it’s used as something other than a verb…it’s a VERBAL

Is it a VERB or a VERBAL?? Examples: –Waxed –Flowing –Playing –Sleeping These can be verbs or verbals depending upon how they are used in the sentence.

Is it a VERB or a VERBAL?? Examples: –Our butler waxed the floors. –The waxed floors were slippery and dangerous. In the first sentence, the word is being used as a verb to tell what action is being done. In the other one, the word still looks like a verb, but it is being used as an adjective

Is it a VERB or a VERBAL?? Examples: –Water was flowing over the rocks in the stream. – Flowing water carries a great deal of potential energy. The same thing is true here as in the other example. The second sentence shows the verb working as an adjective instead of a verb.

Basic Information on Verbals There are three different kinds of verbals: –Infinitive –Participle –Gerund Each verbal has a specific purpose and use in a sentence.

Infinitives An infinitive is a verb form that is preceded by the word “to.” –To play –To sleep –To be seen –To steal –To have been stolen –To speak

Infinitives An infinitive has three possible functions: –As a noun –As an adjective –As an adverb Knowing where an infinitive should go helps make the structure of the sentence more clear.

Infinitives If the infinitive phrase is used as a place, thing, or idea it’s a noun. If it is describing a thing, it is an adjective. The rest will be adverbs.

Infinitives: Adjective or Adverb? Adjective –Tells what kind or which one –Taking care of your bicycle is one way to make it last. (Which way? ) Adverb –Tells how, when, where, why or to what extent (how long, how many, how much, or how far) –We used machine oil to lubricate the chain. (Why did we use it?)

Infinitives As a noun: –I hate to go. (direct object) – To steal is a crime. (subject) As an adjective: –It’s time to go. (modify time) –There are jobs to be done (modify jobs) As an adverb: –He always plays to win. (modify plays)

Infinitives Be careful not to create “split” infinitives. This is done when an adverb is placed between the “to” and the verb form. –To boldly go…. –To strenuously object… –To always comply… It is bad structure for this to be formed.

Infinitives In some sentences (following certain verbs), the “sign of the infinitive” (the word “to”) is omitted. This is done for clarity. –Help him (to) move the sofa. –Watch the fish (to) snap at the hook. –Can you feel the floor (to) move?

Infinitives The verbs which call for an omitted “to” are: –See –Hear –Feel –Help –Let –Make –Watch

Participles Verb forms that are used as adjectives are called participles. They will have two forms: –Present (ending in “-ing”) –Past (ending in “-ed” or “-en”) These contain action, but they are not used as verbs in the sentence.

Participles Examples: – Smoking gun – Snoring spouse – Broken window – Elected official – Streaming video – Buzzing noise – Winning touchdown – Walking track

Participles Participles can appear in several places in the sentence, but they are most commonly found describing / modifying the subject. Participle phrases can also be made from single participles – Running along the path

Participles Most participle phrases will have commas setting them off. This is especially true when they open a sentence and modify the subject. – Running at full speed, the quarter back raced twenty yards for a score. – Crying loudly, the baby wanted some attention.

Gerunds A gerund looks a lot like a participle because it ends in “-ing.” However, the gerund is going to be used as a noun. Gerunds will show up as subjects, direct or indirect objects or objects of prepositions.

Gerunds Examples: – Chewing gum in class is not allowed. (subject) –I liked eating at the new restaurant. (direct object) –Without running very hard I won the race. – Tearing the lined paper is not allowed in this class. (subject)