VERBALS OVERVIEW
Verbals are words or groups of words made from verbs, but used as different parts of
speech.
Ex:
verb
verbals
sleep
infinitive
I’d like to sleep for a year.
gerund
Sleeping is my favorite activity.
participle
Don’t bother a sleeping bear.
breaking
infinitive
Try to break the school record for the 100
meter.
gerund
Breaking track records takes a lot of work.
participle
Uncle Myron is trying to mend his broken
heart.
A verbal is:
a word or words made from a verb.
acts like a noun, adjective or adverb
An infinitive is the word to + a verb.
Ex:
Janet wants to do more homework.
I’m going to call my cousin.
A gerund is a verb + ing that becomes a noun.
Ex:
Studying is more fun with music.
I like reading better than writing.
A participle is the past participle form of a verb that becomes an adjective
Ex:
“I am delighted to make your acquaintance,” Rodney replied.
Frozen meat thaws quickly in a microwave oven.