Verbal

Encyclopedia : V : VE : VER : Verbal

Verbal can also mean a word or group of words that functions as a verb by serving as the head of a verb phrase. (In some languages, adjectives are verbals.)

A verbal is a word used simultaneously as a verb and another part of speech. The details of use vary from language to language, but typically a verbal can take adverbs and certain kinds of verb arguments, producing a verbal phrase which then plays a different role — usually noun, adjective, or adverb — in a greater clause.

English has three kinds of verbals: participles, which function as adjectives; gerunds, which function as nouns; and infinitives, which function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Each of these is also used in various common constructs; for example, the past participle is used in forming the perfect aspect (to have done).

Other kinds of verbals, such as supines and gerundives, exist in other languages.

Contents

1 Participles
2 Gerunds
3 Infinitives
4 Bibliography
5 See also
6 External links

Participles

A participle is a verbal adjective that describes a noun as being a participant in the action of the verb. English has two kinds of participles: a present participle, also called an imperfect participle, which ends in -ing and which ordinarily describes the agent of an action, and a past participle, also called a perfect participle, which typically ends in -ed (but can also end in -en, -t, or none of these), and which ordinarily describes the patient of an action.

The following sentences contain participles:

The howling children disturbed the neighbors. (Here howling modifies children.)
Annoyed, Rita ate dinner by herself in the bathroom. (Here annoyed modifies Rita.)

In English, the present participle is used in forming the continuous aspect (to be doing); the past participle is used in forming the passive voice (to be done) and the perfect aspect (to have done).

A participial phrase is a phrase consisting of a participle and any adverbials and/or arguments; the participle is the head of such a phrase:

Gazing at the painting, she recalled the house where she was born. (Here gazing at the painting modifies she.)

For use of participles in languages besides English, go to the main article.

Gerunds

A gerund is a verbal noun that refers to the action of the verb. In English, a gerund has the same form as a present participle (see above), ending in -ing:

Fencing is good exercise. (Here fencing is the subject of is.)
Leroy expanded his skills by studying. (Here studying is the object of by.)

A gerund phrase is a phrase consisting of a gerund and any adverbials and/or arguments; the gerund is the head of such a phrase:

My evening routine features jogging slowly around the block. (Here jogging slowly around the block is the direct object of features.)

Infinitives

In English, an infinitive is a verb form that consist of the preposition to and the verb, such as to eat or to run. An infinitive acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

To succeed takes courage, foresight, and luck. (Here to succeed is a noun, the subject of takes.)
I don't have time to waste. (Here to waste is an adjective modifying time.)
Carol was invited to speak. (Here to speak is an adverb modifying invited.)

An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and any related words.

Paul wanted to learn silk screening. (The infinitive phrase to learn silk screening acts as a noun, the direct object.)

For use of infinitives in languages besides English, go to the main article.

Bibliography

Dodds, Jack (2006). The Ready Reference Handbook, 4th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.. ISBN 0321330692
Rozakis, Laurie (2003). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style, 2nd Edition. Alpha. ISBN 1592571158

External links

Owl Online Writing Lab: [Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives]