3.03 Get Verbal Word Guide
Nouns​ are ​names​ for ​persons​, ​places​, or ​things​.
Pronouns​ are words that ​take the place of nouns​ like ​I​, ​you​, ​he​, ​she​, ​it​, ​we​, and ​they​.
Adjectives​ are words that ​modify a noun or pronoun​. That means they ​describe the noun or pronoun in some way​. You can find them in a
sentence by asking ​which​, ​whose​, w​ hat kind​, or ​how many​.
Verbs​ are ​action words​. They tell you what ​someone or something is ​doing​ or what ​state of being​ they are in​.
Adverbs​ are words that ​modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs​. They tell you ​how​, w​ hen​, ​where​, and ​how much​. ​Words that end in ​–ly​ are
usually adverbs​, but they’re ​not the only kind of adverbs​.
Gerunds​ are ​verb forms that end in ​–ing​. They ​work as ​nouns​ in the sentences in which they are used.
➔ Fishing​ ​with my family is one of my favorite pastimes.
➔ For my birthday, I went ​roller skating​ ​with my friends.
➔ Selling​ ​handicrafts is a way that I can earn money for college
Tip​: Not ​all​ verbs ending in ​–ing​ are gerunds. They also have to be ​used as nouns​. Yet a verb ending in –ing ​may still be a verbal​.
Participles​ are verb forms that ​function as adjectives, or descriptive words and phrases​. The endings ​–ing​, ​–ed​, or ​–en​ can help you identify
participles. They come in ​two types​; ​present participles​, which end in ​-ing​, and ​past participles​, which end in ​-ed​ or ​-en​.
➔ Would you help me find my ​running​ shoes? ​(Present participle; describes the ​shoes​)
➔ Be careful when you pour the ​boiling​ water into the pan. ​(Present participle; describes the ​water​)
➔ The ​mashed​ potatoes were tasty.​ (Past participle, describes the ​potatoes​)
Infinitives​ acting as ​nouns​, ​adjectives​, or ​adverbs​, are ​verbals​. There are ​three types of infinitive verbals​:
★ Nominal infinitive​ ​verbal is an ​infinitive acting as a noun​.
➔ To travel​ the world would be my dream come true.
➔ Our town is planning ​to create​ a skate park.
★ Adjectival infinitive​ verbal is an ​infinitive acting as an adjective​. It ​directly follows the noun it describes​.
➔ My first attempt ​to bake​ a cake was a disaster. ​(describes “​attempt​”)
➔ I have the strength ​to reach​ my goal. ​(describes “​strength​”)
★ Adverbial infinitive​ verbal is an ​infinitive acting as an adverb​.
❏ Tip​: ​If you can place ​“in order”​ in front of the infinitive and the sentence ​makes sense​, you have an adverbial infinitive.
➔ (In order)​ ​To build​ this bookshelf faster, let’s try working together.​ (describes “​try​”)
➔ We must leave now ​(in order)​ ​to reach​ the bus on time.​ (describes “​leave​”)