What is a Verbal?

In this article we will help you to define verbal.

A verbal is a verb form that acts as another part of speech—either as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Participles, gerunds, and infinitives are the three verbal types.

A participle is a verbal form that functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns and pronouns and can be either a present participle or a past participle. A participial phrase includes the participle, plus any modifiers and complements.

Present Verbal Examples:

Verbal Example: Applauding, the audience gave the singers a standing ovation.

(Applauding is the present participle. It modifies audience.)

Verbal Example: Running toward the finish line, Kelly smiled and threw her hands into the air.

(Running is the present participle, and running toward the finish line is the participial phrase. The participial phrase modifies Kelly.)

Past Verbal Examples:

Verbal Example: The smell of burned toast filled the kitchen.

(Burned is the past participle. It modifies toast.)

Verbal Example: Chopped into large pieces, the wood sat in a pile.

(Chopped is the past participle, and chopped into large pieces is the participial phrase. The participial phrase modifies wood.)

Verbal Gerunds

A gerund is a verbal form that functions as a noun. It always ends in -ing. A gerund phrase includes the gerund, plus any modifiers and complements. By functioning as a noun, gerunds and gerund phrases can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, or objects of a preposition in a sentence.

A good way to determine whether a word or phrase is functioning as a gerund versus a present participle is to replace it with the word something. If the replacement works, then the word or phrase is a gerund.

Verbal Gerund Examples:

Verbal Example: Painting helps me relax.

(Painting is the gerund. It acts as a subject in the sentence.)

Verbal Example: The act of voting is a responsibility every citizen should take seriously.

(Voting is the gerund. It acts as an object of the preposition of in the sentence.)

Verbal Example: I like visiting historical sites.

(Visiting is the gerund, and visiting historical sites is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as a direct object in the sentence.)

Verbal Example: David’s job is flying helicopters.

(Flying is the gerund, and flying helicopters is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as a predicate nominative in the sentence, identifying job.)

Infinitives

An infinitive is a verbal form that typically begins with the word to. An infinitive phrase includes the infinitive, plus any modifiers and complements. Infinitives and infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. When they function as nouns, they can act either as subjects, direct objects, or predicate nominatives.

Infinitive Noun Examples:

Verbal Example: Ben likes to ski.

(To ski is the infinitive. It functions as a noun in the sentence, acting as a direct object.)

Verbal Example: My biggest goal is to finish a marathon.

(To finish is the infinitive, and to finish a marathon is the infinitive phrase. The infinitive phrase functions as a noun phrase in the sentence. It acts as a predicate nominative, identifying goal.)

Infinitive Adjective Examples:

Verbal Example: Paris is a fascinating city to visit.

(To visit is the infinitive. It functions as an adjective in the sentence, modifying city.)

Verbal Example: An antique store is a good place to find hidden treasures.

(To find is the infinitive, and to find hidden treasures is the infinitive phrase. The infinitive phrase functions as an adjective phrase in the sentence, modifying place.)

Infinitive Adverb Examples:

Verbal Example: To scuba dive, a person must get certified.

(To scuba dive is the infinitive. It functions as an adverb in the sentence, modifying must get certified.)

Verbal Example: To be on time, we should leave.

(To be is the infinitive, and to be on time is the infinitive phrase. The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb phrase in the sentence, modifying should leave.)

Why is a Verbal Important?

Writers can use a verbal to help make their writing more varied and concise and to give it better flow.

Verbal Example:

Original Verbal Example: James ran from the dog. He hid behind a tree. He knew he couldn’t stay there for long, though. He could hear the dog. It was approaching him. It snarled and growled. He tried to think of somewhere else he could go. Then he saw the barn. Would he be able to get to it without the dog first spotting him? James wasn’t sure, but he thought he should probably run to it. It was his only real option.

Revised Verbal Example: Running away from the dog, James hid behind a tree. He knew he couldn’t stay there for long, though. He could hear the approaching dog, snarling and growling. He tried to think of somewhere else to go. Then he saw the barn. Would he be able to get to it without the dog first spotting him? James wasn’t sure, but he thought running to it was his only real option.