Verbals

Verbal Form Function

Infinitive to + base form of the verb Noun

Adjective
Adverb

Participle • present participle (-ing);  Adjective

• past participle (adding ed/d
for regular verbs or chan
• ging the spelling for
irregular verbs)
• perfect participle (having +
past participle or having
been + past participle)

Gerund present participle (-ing) form of Noun

the verb

NOUN
• a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things ( common
noun ), or to name a particular one of these ( proper noun ).

ADJECTIVES
• a word that describes a noun or pronoun "Big," "boring," "purple," and "obvious" are all adjectives

ADVERBS
• a word that describes or gives more information about a verb, adjective, adverb, or phrase:
• In the phrase "she smiled cheerfully," the word "cheerfully" is an adverb.

PARTICIPLES (Answer the questions: What kind? Which one?)

• is a form of a verb that can act as an ADJECTIVE.

A. PRESENT PARTICIPLE
-ends in – ing (dancing, singing, waiting)
 B. PAST PARTICIPLE
-ends in -ed, -t, en.

PAST PARTICIPLE PRESENT

PARTICIPLE

VERB The heroes of this nation had The children are singing about
treasured it. their love for their country.
Verb= had treasured (perfect Verb=are singing (progressive)
tense)

VERBAL (PARTICIPLE) The heroes considered the
Philippines a treasured nation.
Verb= considered
Adjective= treasured (what
kind of nation?)
The singing children are
declaring their love for their
country.
Verb=are declaring
Adjective=singing (which one?)

EXAMPLE:

1. A whining sound came from the engine of the car.

>What kind of sound?
Participle= Whining
Verb= Came

2. The frozen pipes need to be repaired.

> Which one?
Participle= Frozen
Verb=Repaired

GERUNDS
• Is a type of verbal formed with the present participle (-ing) form of the verb which functions as a
NOUN.
• Examples: singing, running, jumping, walking

Different functions of GERUND as a noun

1. SUBJECT

Jogging is my favorite sport.

 2. DIRECT OBJECT (WHAT OR WHOM?)

I thoroughly enjoy jogging

3. INDIRECT OBJECT (TO WHAT? TO WHOM? FOR WHOM?)

Andrea gives jogging much of her time.

4. SUBJECT COMPLEMENT
-follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject of the sentence.

My Favorite sport is jogging.

INFINITIVES
is a verbal formed by placing to in front of the simple present form of a verb.
Examples:
• to swim             
• to think            
• to read           
• to be               
• to cut            
• to turn

Different functions of INFINITIVES

1. ADJECTIVAL INFINITIVES
 -Just like a single-word adjective, an infinitive used as an adjective always describes a noun.
This is the best time to start.

2. ADVERBIAL INFINITIVES
*an infinitive used as an adverb always describes a verb.
HINT:  You can always identify an adverbial infinitive by inserting the test words in order  in front of
infinitive.  If the words in order make sense, the infinitive is adverbial.

To win, you need the highest number of points.

3. NOMINAL INFINITIVES AS A SUBJECT

To climb Mt. Everest was my greatest ambition.

4. NOMINAL INFINITIVES AS A DIRECT OBJECT (WHAT OR WHOM?)

At one time, I attempted to climb Mt. Everest.

5. NOMINAL INFINITIVES AS A SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

-follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject of the sentence.

My greatest ambition is to climb Mt. Everest.

Infinitives- can be nouns. But unlike gerunds, infinitive can also be adjectives and
adverbs. Always preceded with “to”