Grammar Lesson - Verbals

The three verbals are:
1. Gerund
2. Infinitive
3. Participle

Verbals are in a different category from nouns
Verbal - category of a verb which functions as another part of speech

Gerund - functions as a noun by adding ing.
e.g. Jackie went jogging with her dog.

Infinitive - verb acting as a noun, adjective, or adverb by attaching the preposition to the stem of the verb.

The basic definition is:  to plus the verb.

examples:  to kiss, to cuddle, to snore
"to" is the preposition, and "kiss, cuddle, snore" are the stems of the verb

In a sentence the infinitive functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

e.g. 1.
Prepositional phrase:  To sneeze in someone's face is rude and unhealthy.
to sneeze = infinitive

e.g. 2.
Prepositional phrase: John likes to play guitar with his friends.
to play = infinitive

Participle - verbal that functions as an adjective
Present participle example:  The boiling water on the stove is hot.
Present participles always end in ing and are created from the form of a verb used with the verb to be as an auxiliary verb (progressive tense).
Past participles usually end in ed or en and are created from the form of a verb used with the verb to be as an auxiliary verb.
Past participle example:  The window was broken on Thursday.  Or:  The windows were cracked by vandals.

SPECIAL VERBS:  feel, help, hear, let, make, see, watch
e.g. The tourist watched the plane take off.

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