Verbals are words derived from verbs that function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Although they are based on verbs, they don’t always act as verbs in a sentence. The three main types of verbals are gerunds, infinitives, and participles. This section will explain each type, their uses, and common mistakes to avoid.

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1. Gerunds 🏅

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun. Gerunds are used to talk about activities or actions in a general sense.

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Formation

• Add -ing to the base form of the verb.
  Example: run → running, swim → swimming.

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Uses of Gerunds

Function	Example
Subject of a Sentence	Swimming is good for your health.
Object of a Verb	She enjoys reading books.
Object of a Preposition	They are interested in learning new languages.
Complement of a Subject	Her passion is dancing.

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Examples

• Running takes up most of my time.
• She stopped smoking last year.
• I enjoy swimming in the ocean.

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Important Note

A gerund is a verb in its -ing form, but it behaves like a noun. It can be the subject or object of a sentence, just like a regular noun.

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2. Infinitives ➡️

An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by the word to. Infinitives can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence.

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Formation

• Use to + the base form of the verb.
  Example: to eat, to sing, to run.

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Uses of Infinitives

Function	Example
As a Noun	To travel is my dream.
To Express Purpose	She went to the store to buy groceries.
As an Adjective	I have a lot of work to do.
As an Adverb	He ran quickly to catch the bus.

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Examples

• They plan to visit Japan next year.
• She asked to leave early.
• He failed to understand the instructions.

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Important Note

Infinitives are often used to express purpose, intention, or plans.

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3. Verbs Followed by Gerunds and / or Infinitives.

Verb	Takes	Examples
Enjoy	Gerund	I enjoy reading.
Avoid	Gerund	She avoids eating junk food.
Consider	Gerund	He considered moving to a new city.
Finish	Gerund	They finished cleaning the house.
Suggest	Gerund	She suggested going to the park.
Want	Infinitive	I want to travel the world.
Decide	Infinitive	He decided to study medicine.
Plan	Infinitive	We plan to visit Paris next year.
Hope	Infinitive	She hopes to find a new job soon.
Promise	Infinitive	He promised to help me with the project.
Like	Both	I like swimming. / I like to swim.
Love	Both	She loves dancing. / She loves to dance.
Hate	Both	They hate waiting. / They hate to wait.
Begin	Both	It began raining. / It began to rain.
Start	Both	She started crying. / She started to cry.
Try	Both	He tried calling her. (attempt) / He tried to call her. (effort)
Remember	Both	I remember locking the door. (past action) / Remember to lock the door. (future action)
Forget	Both	She forgot calling him. (past action) / She forgot to call him. (future action)
Stop	Both	He stopped smoking. (quit) / He stopped to smoke. (pause for smoking)
Regret	Both	I regret telling him. (past action) / I regret to tell you this. (future action)

Notes:

1. Gerund: A verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun (e.g., swimming, reading).
2. Infinitive: The base form of a verb preceded by to (e.g., to swim, to read).
3. Some verbs (e.g., like, love, hate) can take both gerunds and infinitives with little to no difference in meaning.
4. Other verbs (e.g., remember, forget, stop) change meaning depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or infinitive.

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4. Participles 🔧

A participle is a verb form that functions as an adjective, modifying nouns or pronouns. There are two types of participles: present participles (ending in -ing) and past participles (often ending in -ed or irregular forms).

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Present Participles

Function	Example
As an Adjective	The crying baby woke up the whole house.
In Continuous Tenses	She is working hard.
In Participle Phrases	Walking quickly, he reached the bus stop just in time.

Examples:

• The shining star illuminated the night sky.
• She came in with a smiling face.
• The burning candle melted quickly.

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Past Participles

Function	Example
As an Adjective	The broken window needs to be fixed.
In Perfect Tenses	She has finished her homework.
In Passive Voice	The letter was written by Jane.

Examples:

• The written report was handed in late.
• They found the lost keys under the couch.
• He felt excited about the trip.

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5. Key Differences Between Verbals

Type	Function	Example
Gerund	Acts as a noun.	Swimming is fun.
Infinitive	Acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb.	I want to swim.
Present Participle	Acts as an adjective or part of a verb tense.	The swimming pool is clean.
Past Participle	Acts as an adjective or part of a verb tense.	The broken chair needs repair.

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Common Mistakes with Verbals

1. Confusing Gerunds and Present Participles:
   • Both end in -ing, but gerunds act as nouns, while present participles act as adjectives or help form continuous verb tenses.
     • ❌: Running is tired.
       ✅: I am running.
2. Using Infinitives vs. Gerunds with Certain Verbs:
   • Some verbs are followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning can change.
     • Example with a gerund: I enjoy reading books. (General activity.)
     • Example with an infinitive: I plan to read tomorrow. (Future intention.)
3. Misusing Past Participles:
   • ❌: The chair was broke.
     ✅: The chair was broken.

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Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of verbals with these exercises:

A. Identify the Verbal

1. Swimming is great exercise.
   (Gerund)
2. I want to travel the world.
   (Infinitive)
3. The broken chair needs repair.
   (Past Participle)
4. She is a talented singer.
   (Present Participle)
5. We are studying for the test.
   (Present Participle)

B. Fill in the Blanks

1. She enjoys __________ (read) books.
   (reading)
2. He plans __________ (visit) Japan next year.
   (to visit)
3. The __________ (burn) candle melted quickly.
   (burning)

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What’s Next?

Dive into Adjectives and Adverbs to learn how to describe and modify words.

Explore Verb Tenses to master how verbs express time.

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