WRITING CENTER "INFORMATION PICK-UP" (S.S.C.C.)
WHAT ARE VERBALS?
• WHAT ARE VERBALS?
• WHAT ARE INFINITIVES?
• WHAT ARE GERUNDS?
• HOW ARE THEY USED?
• PRACTICE with VERBALS (GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES):
• WHAT ARE VERBALS?
DEFINITION: A verbal is a word which is derived from a verb but which is NEVER used
as a verb.
A verbal is "a word, esp. a noun or adjective, derived from a verb, as a gerund, infinitive or participle" (Random House Webster's College Dictionary).
A verbal may be used as a noun or even a subject when it functions as the main subject doing an action of a sentence--as a gerund or infinitive.
It may be used as an object when it functions as the recipient of the main verb's action in a sentence--as a gerund or infinitive.
It may be used to modify or describe an adjective or noun--in participle form (specialized goods, fighting chance, exhausting trip, jumping bean, dancing bear, etc.).
It may express a purpose--in infinitive or gerund form.
• WHAT ARE INFINITIVES?
• WHAT ARE GERUNDS?
• HOW ARE THEY USED?
There are two types of verbals:
infinitives and gerunds.
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INFINITIVE: TO + VERB
An infinitive is used for the same sentence functions as
nouns: subjects, complements, and
direct objects. An infinitive can also
be an appositive [a word or phrase in apposition: a grammatical relation between expressions, usu. consecutive,
that have the same referent and the same relation to other elements in the
sentence, as between our first president and Washington in Washington, our
first president, was born in Virginia (Random
House Webster's College Dictionary)], adjective modifier or adverbial.
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All verbs have an active infinitive form, both positive and negative.
FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE:
Positive to + simple verb The child wants to play.
form The mayor hopes to
convince the
company
president of the
city's prospects.
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Negative not to + simple Sue Ellen decided
verb form not to gamble
with her marriage.
Negative not to + simple Fritz commanded his
verb form son not to mess
(continued) around with the
neighborhood
kids.
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Perfect (not) to have + The child was fortunate
participle not to have
set off the pipe
bomb.
Museum curators chose
to have included
the controversial
pieces smuggled
out of Iran.
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Passive (not) to be + The new business
participle wants to be
recognized for
its unique
merchandise.
The Hansons' new baby
is to be baptized
before first
service this
Sunday.
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Perfect Passive (not) to have The restaurant staff
been + participle are saddened
to have been
slammed in the
"Dining Out"
review column.
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FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE: Where are infinitives used in a sentence? How are they used?
Function Examples
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Subject To walk in outer space is his lifetime goal.
To pass Chemistry 101 is my ambition
for
this quarter.
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Subject Complement Her goal is to complete her floor
(after linking exercises without any major
verb) gaffes.
Shelley's lifelong ambition is to
publish her short stories under
a pseudonym.
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Object of verb Mark Salzman hopes to
achieve a
reputation as a raconteur of the
first order.
Construction
workers aim to finish
the gravel path around the new
building by the first of February.
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Following verb + noun The shipping
company expects them
phrase to
have the containers ready to
go.
The police want him to reform
himself in prison.
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Modifying an adjective Georgette is eager to join the local
soccer team.
The boss was delighted to find that
her staff managed well while she
was on vacation.
Modifying an adjective Mack is too
tired to argue about the
(another version) extra charge on his credit card bill.
(too + adjective + infinitive)
Fred was too young to enter college
even though he had the intellectual
capability and academic discipline.
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Modifying a noun The Browns have no money to
continue fighting the court case.
The library has a collection of
software to help patrons find the
information they need.
The chef will show me the way to
make a white sauce for the
chicken and vegetables.
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Expressing purpose He evaded the question to strengthen
his
position in the argument.
The crook fought to keep from getting
arrested.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
(MADD) members decided to try
a new strategy to get out their
message to the public.
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VERBS THAT ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING:
hope decide pretend want wish
afford deserve intend plan seem
offer venture expect choose urge
bother need claim manage use
refuse threaten regret struggle fail
promise agree learn arrange beg
prepare hesitate would like demand
appear volunteer consent
VERBS THAT ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY A NOUN/PRONOUN AND THE INFINITIVE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
allow (someone) to encourage...to
invite...to tell (someone) to require...to
remind...to warn...to force...to need...to
ask...to advise...to permit...to order...to
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ADJECTIVES THAT ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY AN
INFINITIVE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
anxious (in)advisable foolish eager
sorry silly happy dangerous
(un)kind proud (im)possible powerless
likely right worthwhile lucky
wrong easy (un)necessary (un)just
difficult (un)essential (un)fair hard
tenacious tough angry enthusiastic
GERUND: VERB + ING
A gerund is used as a noun in the following capacities: subject, complement, and direct object. It can also be an appositive and object of a preposition.
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FUNCTION of GERUNDS EXAMPLES
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subject + singular Entering the marathon race is the hardest
verb part.
Tackling a football player is against the
rules in tag football.
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subject complement One of the best pastimes at the Burke
Gilman Trail is roller-blading.
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object Mr. Mansfield enjoys eating geoduck from
the Pike Place Market.
Sarah practices bowling on Sundays.
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object of preposition The campers complained of hearing strange
noises from the bushes.
The swimmers argued about being
exploited by the television camera
crews.
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COMMONLY USED VERBS THAT USUALLY TAKE GERUNDS RATHER THAN INFINITIVES AS THEIR DIRECT OBJECTS:
admit help deny tolerate
anticipate finish postpone appreciate
go practice avoid (dis)like
quit be
worth imagine recommend
can(not) help risk involve spend money
consider mind mention recollect
spend time delay keep tolerate
miss suggest enjoy keep (on)
see concentrate (on) thank (for) blame (for)
insist (on) apologize (for) worry (about) think (about)
understand complete recall
VERBS THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED EITHER BY A GERUND OR AN INFINITIVE WITHOUT ANY DIFFERENCE IN MEANING INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
begin hate love prefer continue
like neglect start can(not) bear can(not) stand
VERBS THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED EITHER BY A GERUND OR AN INFINITIVE WITH A DIFFERENCE IN MEANING INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
remember forget regret try fight
• PRACTICE with VERBALS (GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES):
The following assignment shows how verbals may be subjects of sentences and may act as nouns (activity = noun) and even as objects (of verbs and prepositions) in sentences.
Identify the subject(s) and verb(s) in the following sentences. Underline the subject(s) once and the verb(s) twice. Find the verbal within the sentence and identify what position it is in (as subject or object or other).
Examples: The verbals have been underlined here for you.
1. To succeed in a class takes a lot of effort.
2. Having a cold is no fun at all.
3. The prosecution plans to subpoena the governor and *question him about alleged financial mismanagement.
* The "to" does not need to be repeated because the first "to" used with "to subpoena" applies to the second verbal as well.
4. Driving a car and maneuvering it correctly involve fast reflexes, caution, common sense and a knowledge of driving rules.
5. To day-dream about your trip to Italy is no way to spend your working hours.
6. The biology class truly dislikes dissecting frogs and combining chemicals for special effects.
7. Fighting the crowds and moving through busy shopping centers really frustrate me during the Christmas shopping frenzy.
8. The physician plans to open his own family care practice in the Lakewood area and to gather a clientele within the first six months.
9. The family went to the bank to open a joint checking account and to close out a few certificates of deposit.
10. William Golding's Lord of the Flies describes fighting and competing among youth isolated on an island.
PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT: Read the following sentences. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in the following sentences.
Remember that you will be identifying verbals which act as subjects or objects in the following sentences. Identify the verbals used as subjects with an "s" above them and the verbals used as objects with an "o." Identify those which are objects of prepositions with an "op."
1. Saving money is the whole rationale behind banking, in my opinion.
2. To ignore your physician is to ask for trouble; to ignore your coach, though, is another matter.
3. Deciding on and planning one's career are difficult aspects of education.
4. The drunk driver did not want to listen to the advice of friends who told him to take a taxi home.
5. Knowing your family history will help you in writing this first assignment. Not knowing basic information may cost you in time and research.
6. Listening to and accepting (or not accepting) other people's ideas will be an important part of your work in class discussions.
7. Seattle, Washington, is a good place to hike, water ski, boat, and climb mountains.
8. When are you finally going to grow up, Theodore?
9. They are too impatient to wait in line any longer now at the Incredible Universe.
10. Maylen will be the one to win the contest.
11. I think Manuel is the one to be blamed.
12. Who wants to collect the funds for this surprise party for Marjorie and Joe?
13. To fight with his family is not his real intention.
14. The gang hung out at the local mall where they went to talk, to socialize, to fight, and to play.
15. It isn't always desirable to go for the higher paying job as job satisfaction is important as well.
16. To discuss this quietly, we need to find a quiet room. We will agree to disagree in a civil way and in privacy.
17. To go into debt is a serious action. To get out of debt seems easier said than done.
18. Drafting materials for the class will take up at least 10 hours a week.
19. Getting a job involves going through an interview and writing a short essay.
20. Going to the movies costs a lot of money, so we often find ourselves attending (participial phrase)only the matinee or discount shows.
21. To visit the dentist requires at least a three-week wait.
22. Getting a table at this restaurant is easy. Tipping the maitre d' is the key.
23. Correcting the tests and grading them correctly demands much effort and attention to detail.
24. To understand this concept requires reading extensively in the field of psychology.
25. Arguing with the boss is useless unless you have some constructive ideas on how to make things better..
26. The Hernandez family hopes to win the lottery by purchasing many tickets together.
27. The post office workers want to postpone a price hike on stamps until after the new year.
28. The teacher decided to permit the student to enter the essay contest.
29. The Girl Scouts plan to go canoeing this summer.
30. Mountain climbing and hiking are favorite pastimes of his.
Sources:
Adams, Peter Dow. Basics: A Grammar and Punctuation Workbook.
Glenview: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1989.
Azar, Betty Schrampfer.
Understanding and Using English
Grammar:
Second Edition. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall Regents, 1989.
Byrd, Patricia and Beverly Benson. Applied English Grammar. Boston:
Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 1992.
Raimes, Ann. How English Works: A Grammar Handbook with
Readings. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990.
Note: Refer to Grammar In Context I or II for more information on verbals. Talk to a Writing Center staff member to borrow a copy.
(Revised 1998)