Verbals

Verbals  are words formed from a verb but functioning as a different part of speech.

3 Types of  Verbals

Gerunds —are verbals that function as a noun.

It is also ends in -ing.

Like a single-word noun, a gerund may be use as:

1. Subject

Nalini Singh is my favorite author. (Noun)
Reading is my hobby.( Gerund)

2. Direct Object -answering "whom" or "what" after an action verb.  A direct object "receives" or is the "object" of the action.

Example:

I eat breakfast. (Noun)
I enjoy eating.  ( Gerund)

3. Object of Preposition answering "whom" or "what" after a preposition in a prepositional phrase.
Example:
Joe takes pleasure in basketball.( noun)
Joe takes pleasure in running.(Gerund)

4. Appositive renames another noun; An appositive is usually placed next to the noun it renames..

Example:
My favorite sport, basketball, takes a great deal of effort. (Noun)

My favorite exercise, running, takes a great deal of effort. (Gerund)

5. Retained Object answering "whom" or "what" after a passive verb.
The contractor was given a project.( Noun)
The contractor was given a building. (Gerund)

6. Subjective Complement renames or describes (equals) the subject after a verb of being or a linking verb.

My favorite food is adobo. (Noun)

My favorite exercise is jogging. (Gerund)

Participles 

—are verbals that function as an adjective.

Present participles —always ending in -ing, are created from the form of a verb used with the verb to be ( am, is, are, was, were, been)  as an auxiliary verb (progressive tense).

Removing the auxiliary verb and using the -ing form of the main verb as an adjective produces a present participle.

Example: use as an adjective

The boiling water on the stove is hot.

It was an amazing film.

Past Participle

- usually ending  in -ed  or -en, are created from the form of a verb used with the verb to be as an auxiliary verb (passive voice).

Example: use as a verb

The windows were cracked by vandals.

The windows were broken last night.

Example:  use as an adjective

The cracked windows have been fixed.

The broken windows were expensive to repair.

                    

Infinitives

—formed by placing to in front of the simple present form of a verb.

—Examples:

  to swim        to think        to read 

  to be            to cut           to turn

Infinitives may function as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.

A. Adjectival infinitives
Just like a single-word adjective, an infinitive used as an adjective always describe a noun.
An adjectival  infinitive always follows the noun it describes.
Example:
This is the best time to start.
B.  Adverbial infinitives

Just like a single-word adverb, an infinitive used as an adverb always describes a verb.

An adverbial infinitive usually occurs at the beginning or at the end of a sentence and does not need to be near the verb it describes.

EXAMPLE:  Adverbial infinitive at sentence beginning

To win, you need the highest number of points.

EXAMPLE:  Adverbial infinitive at sentence end

You need the highest number of points to win.

HINT:  You can always identify an adverbial infinitive by inserting the test words in order in front of infinitive.  If the words in order make sense, the infinitive is adverbial.  

PUNCTUATION  NOTE:

1.  Use a comma after the adverbial infinitive when it starts a sentence.

2.  Do not separate the adverbial infinitive from the rest of the sentence if the infinitive ends the sentence.

C.  Nominal infinitives

Like a single-word noun, a nominal infinitive may function as a:

 C.1  SUBJECT

To climb Mt. Everest was my ambition.

C.2  Direct Object

At one time, I attempted to climb Mt. Everest.

C.3  Retained Object

The hiker was asked to climb Mt. Everest.

C.4  Subjective Complement

My greatest ambition is to climb Mt. Everest.

C. 5  Appositive

My greatest ambition, to climb Mt. Everest, directed my life.