Verbals (participles, gerunds, infinitives)A verbal is a noun or adjective formed from a verb. Writers sometimes make mistakes by using a

verbal in place of a verb, and in very formal writing, by confusing different types of verbals. This

section covers three different verbals: the participle (which acts as an adjective), the gerund (which acts

as a noun), and the infinitive (which also acts as a noun).

The fundamental difference between verbals and other nouns and adjectives is that verbals can

take their own objects, even though they are no longer verbs:

Gerund

Building a house is complicated.

In this example, the noun phrase “a house'' is the direct object of the verbal “building'', even

though “building'' is a noun rather than a verb.

The Participle

A participle is an adjective formed from a verb. To make a present participle, you add “-ing'' to

the verb, sometimes doubling the final consonant:

“think'' becomes “thinking''

“fall'' becomes “falling''

“run'' becomes “running''

The second type of participle, the past participle, is a little more complicated, since not all verbs

form the past tense regularly.

The following are all past participles:

the sunken ship

a ruined city

a misspelled word

Note that only transitive verbs can use their past participles as adjectives, and that unlike other

verbals, past participles do not take objects (unless they are part of a compound verb).

The Gerund

A gerund is a noun formed from a verb. To make a gerund, you add “-ing'' to the verb, just as

with a present participle. The fundamental difference is that a gerund is a noun, while a participle is an

adjective:

gerund

I enjoy running. (“Running'' is a noun acting as the direct object of the verb “enjoy.'')

participle

Stay away from running water. (“Running'' is an adjective modifying the noun “water''.)

Using Verbals

There are two common problems that come up when writers use verbals. The first is that since

verbals look like verbs, they sometimes cause students to write fragmentary sentences:

[WRONG] Oh, to find true love!

[WRONG] Jimmy, swimming the most important race of his life.

The second problem is a very fine point, which most editors and some teachers no longer

enforce. Although they look the same, gerunds and present participles are different parts of speech, and

need to be treated differently. For example, consider the following two sentences:

I admire the woman finishing the report.

I admire the woman's finishing the report.

In the first example, “finishing'' is a participle modifying the noun “woman'': in other words, the

writer admires the woman, not what she is doing; in the second example, “finishing'' is a participle,

modified by the possessive noun “woman's'': in other words, the writer admires not the woman herself

but the fact that she is finishing the report.

VERBALS IN PASSIVE STRUCTURESVerbals or verb forms can also take on features of the passive voice. An infinitive

phrase in the passive voice, for instance, can perform various functions within a sentence (just like the active forms of the infinitive).

Subject: To be elected by my peers is a great honor.

Object: That child really likes to be read to by her mother.

Modifier: Grasso was the first woman to be elected governor in her own right.

The same is true of passive gerunds.

Subject: Being elected by my peers was a great thrill.

Object: I really don't like being lectured to by my boss.

Object of preposition: I am so tired of being lectured to by my boss.

With passive participles, part of the passive construction is often omitted, the result being a simple modifying participial phrase.

[Having been] designed for off-road performance, the Pathseeker does not always behave

well on paved highways.

Gerund or Infinitive as Object of Verb?

Gerunds and infinitives can both be used as subjects, subject complements, and direct objects of

verbs. The choice of whether to use a gerund or infinitive as a subject, subject complement, or object of

some verbs is left to the speaker/writer. This choice can indicate shades of meaning.

But the choice between which to use as a direct object is sometimes dictated by the verb, leaving

no choice. Which verbs can be followed by gerunds, which by infinitives, (and which by either) must

be memorized. In addition, some verbs require that an infinitive object have a different subject (agent)

from that of the first verb, for others no other agent is possible, and for some both are possible. Again,

these must be memorized. The general meanings associated with gerunds and infinitives can offer

clues, but do not always predict which forms are possible.

Remember, the question here concerns verbs which control gerunds and infinitives as their

objects. Of course, both infinitives and gerunds can follow an unlimited number of verbs for other

reasons. For example, infinitives can also follow verbs to show purpose, in reduced adjective or adverb

clauses, or with other meanings. Gerunds with noun modifiers can be the objects of many different

verbs. And present participles, which may look like gerunds, are not controlled by preceding verbs.

And remember that noun clauses can also be used as objects of many of these same verbs

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OR GERUND OBJECTS,

with little or no difference in meaning:

____ studying.

____ to study.

can afford

can't bear

begin

cease

commence

continue

dread

hate

like

loathe

love

neglect

prefer

propose

(can't) stand

start

undertake

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE GERUND OBJECTS, BUT NOT INFINITIVES:

(usually actual events, often past)

_____ (his) studying

gerund subjects (agents) are usually possessive (his , etc.)

Admit

anticipate

appreciate

avoid

deny

detest

discuss

dislike

get through

give up

go on

can't help

mention

(not) mind

miss

postpone

recollect

recommend

report

resent

stop

suggest

take up

tolerate

complete

consider

defend

delay

enjoy

escape

excuse his

finish

imagine

involve

keep (on)

would like (him)

practice

put off

quit

recall

resist

resume

risk

(can't) see

understand

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OBJECTS, BUT NOT GERUNDS:

(often suggesting a potential or unreal event)

_______ to study

him = infinitive must have a subject (agent)

for him = infinitive must have a subject introduced by for

(him) or (for him) = subject (agent) of infinitive is optional

(none of the above = verb is followed directly by the infinitive)

Agree

aim

appear

appoint him

arrange (for

him)

authorize him

ask (him)

beg (him)

(not) care

cause him

challenge him

choose (him)

claim

command

him

condescend

consent

convince

him

dare (him)

decide

demand

deserve

desire

direct him

enable him

endeavor

expect (him)

fail

force him

get (him)

happen

hesitate

hire him

help him

hope

instruct him

intend

invite him

lead him

learn

long

manage

motivate him

need (him)

oblige him

offer

order him

pay him

persuade him

plan

prepare (him)

pretend

proceed

promise

refuse

remind him

resolve

seem

select him

send him

strive

struggle

swear

tell him

tend

threaten

train him

trust him

volunteer

vow

wait (for him)

want (him)

warn him

wish (him)

yearn

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OR GERUND OBJECTS,

but with a difference in meaning:

________ studying

actual:

first it happens; then there is mental

activity)

________ to study.

potential:

first there is mental activity about a possible

future event)

Attempt

forget

mean

regret

remember

try

do it, hoping for success

do it, then have a mental lapse

it exists, it has a significance

do it, then feel bad

do it, then be aware of it

do it, hoping for success

make an effort, hoping to do it

have a mental lapse, and therefore not do it

have an intention to do it

feel bad, but then do it

think about it, and then do it

make an effort, hoping to do it

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OBJECTS WITH AGENTS, OR GERUNDS :

_______ studying

___ him to study

Advise

allow

encourage

forbidpermit require teach urge

Exercise

1. Teachers often suggest (study) harder as a recipe against negative marks. Nevertheless, many students risk (fail) tests, because they are lazy as hell. Then they complain about (to be treated) unfairly. Actually, they are not really interested in (increase) their knowledge.

2. He stopped (ask) a policeman for the way to Westminster Abbey.

3. I don't want him (come) here so often.

4. (look) at these photos is almost like (be) there.

5. After (to practise) a lot the band started a tour through Switzerland.

6. I forgot (tell) you that I don't like to play cards.

7. After finishing the HAK, some pupils wish (go) abroad for a year.

8. Before (start) your car, you should always buckle up.

9. Girls usually prefer (ride) horses to (play) computer games.

10. He entered the room without (see) me.

Correct the following sentences.

1. The writer Edgar Allen Poe is usually credited with invent the short story.

2. A single-lens reflex camera allows a photographer seeing exactly what the camera will photograph.

3. There are probably around 3000 languages speaking in the world.

4. For decades, journalist Theodore H. White wrote books described American presidential elections.

5. Nutmeg, widely is used as a spice, is actually the kennel of a tropical spice.

6. Viral infections are generally more difficult to treating than bacterial infections.

7. Sports parachutes are relatively easy controlling.

8. A sudden sound can make a golfer to miss a shot.

9. The largest knowing insects are found in tropical rain forests.

10. Hypnosis is sometimes employed as a means of helping people to quit to smoke.

Exercise on infinitives1.How soon do you expect for South America?

(A) to leave (B) be leaving (C) will leave (D) going to leave

2.It is useless for you to do this.

(A)try (B) to try (C) tries (D) to trying

3.I hope to the birthday party tonight.

(A) able to come (B) I shall able to come

(C) I shall can come (D) to be able to come

4.It is too Iate there.

(A) that we walk (B) for us walking (C) us to walk (D) for us to walk

5.He warned me swimming alone because of the rain.

(A) didn't go (B) not go (C) not to go (D) not going

6.The manager ordered the work .

(A) start at once (B) at once start

(C) to be started at once (D) to start at once

7.He finds it easy English as a foreign language.

(A) to learn (B) learning (C) learned (D) and learn

8.I think it a good habit early in the morning.

(A) to get up (B) got up (C) getting up (D) to getting up

9.All the clerks in the bank stopped to look at him.

(A) to write (B) write (C) written (D) writing

10.I am sorry , but I forgot the candy you wanted.

(A) to buy (B) buying (C) of buying (D) to have bought

11.Having worked for several hours, the manager stopped a rest.

(A) to taking (B) to take (C) taking (D) taken

12.When your country calls you for help , you cannot but

(A) to go (B) going (C) go (D) help going

13.The lazy young man does nothing but all day long.

(A) to play (B) playing (C) play (D) played

14.You had better what he has to say.

(A) hear (B) heard (C) hearing (D) to hear

15.You had better Mary about the party. It's a surprising birthday party for her.

(A)not to tell (B) not tell (C) don't tell (D) not tellin

16. When I was young, I play tennis quite well.

(A) was used to (B) used to (C) get used to (D) use to

17. people drink tea, but now more people like coffee.

(A) be used to (B) get used to (C) got used to (D) used to

18. The mother watched her children on the yard.

(A) to play (B) playing (C) was playing (D) played

19. I can hear the girl in the next room.

(A) sang (B) to sing (C) to singing (D) singing

20. There is something wrong with the engine. We must have at once.

(A) repair (B) repairing (C) to repair (D)understand

21. I tried very hard , but I couldn't make myself these tences.

(A) understanding (B) to understand (C) understand (D) understood

22. He is still unable to make himself in English ; his Eglish is too poor.

(A) understood (B) understands (C) understanding (D) understand

23. I don't know him well enough borrow money from him.

(A) to (B) so as to (C) as to (D) in order to

24. She is so foolish cry over a novel.

(A) to (B) as to (C) that (D) may

25. Come closer we can see you better.

(A) in order to (B) so that (C) so as to (D) and this

26. I am sorry you the other day.

(A) to offend (B) offending (C) to have offended (D) not to have off'ended

27. It's day to waste. Let's go for a walk.

(A) such a nice (B) so nice a (C) a such nice (D) too nice a

28. The words on the wall are be recognized.

(A) too vague to (B) too vague not to (C) so vague that (D) so vague as to

29. " Shall I walk you home~" " I don't mind if you do , but

(A) have to do (B) have to walk me (C) have (D) have to

30. It is over spilt milk.

(A)no use to cry (B) no use crying

(C) useless to crying (D) useless crying

31. to give up a bad habit.

(A) Bob is difficult (B) It is not difficult for me

(C) John is easy (D) Dick is impossible

32. I admit it was foolish of me what you hinted at.

(A) have not to understood (B) have to not understood

(C) to not have understood (D) not to have understood

33. He intended abroad last year, but his mother suddenly fell ill.

(A) to go (B) going (C) to have gone (D) having gone

34. Every time cigarettes go up in price , many people try .

(A) to stop to smoke (B) stopping to smoke

(C) stopping (D) to stop smoking

35. If people are unwilling to hear you, to hold your tongue.

(A) you had better (B) you had (C) it is better (D) hadn't you better

36. Be.cause of sir pollution being greatly reduced , this city is still .

(A) a good place which to live (B) lived as a good place

(C) a good place to live in (D) living as a good place

37. "I'll help you whenever you need me. " " Good- I'd like me tomorrow.

(A) you helping (B) that you will help

(C) you to help (D) that you help

38. " What did you hear last night?" " I seemed someone knock at the door. "

(A) hear (B) to have heard (C) to hear (D) having heard

39. John said that he had to run in order .

( A)that he catch the bus (B) that he can catch the bus

(C) to catch the bus (D) to the bus he could catch

Many Chinese students ever made up their minds 1. English when they began to learn it.

However, a few months later, they found 2. not so easy to master English as they 3. before. Of

course , there is no royal road to 4. . In my opinion , Chinese students should first of all form the

good habit 5. Dictionanaries whenever 6. any difficulty in learning it. Secondly,

they had better take good advantage of their vacation 7. a trip to foreign countries so that they may

widen their knowledge about English. But, the hest way 8. it is 9. more, speak more, listen more

and write more. As it plays a very important role in international affairs , the English lang'uage is really

well worth 10.

l. (A) to be good at (B) being good at (C) be good for (D) good at

2. (A) which (B) its (C) it (D) one

3. (A) had thought (B) have thought (C) thought of (D) think of

4. (A)learn (B) learning (C) learned (D) learner

5. (A) of consulting (B) by looking up (C) looking up (D) to consults

6. (A) they met (B) meeting (C) have met (D) to meet

7. (A) to take (B) taking (C) be taken (D) and takes

8. (A) of master (B) to master (C) mastered (D) mastering

9. (A) of reading (B) to read (C) to reading (D) reading

10. (A) us to learn (B) us leaming (C) our to learn (D) our learning

Exercise on Gerundl. Taking pictures very interesting.

(A) is (B) are (C) to be (D) be

2. the bad news made him cry.

(A) Hear (B) Heard (C) Hearing (D)Is hearining'

3. a desert has always been a risk adventure.

(A) Being crossed (B) Having crossed (C) Crossing (D) To have crossed

4. Before he came, I'd finished the whole book.

(A) to read (B) to have read (C) reading (D) read

5. I always enjoy to popular music at night.

(A) to listen (B) listening (C) that I can listen (D) if I can listen

6. We are considering a trip around the island.

(A) take (B) to take (C) to be taking (D) taking

7. I hope you don't mind at your newspaper.

(A) I look (B) my looking (C) I looking (D) mine to look

8. When a man's heart stops ,he dies.

(A) to beat (B) beating (C) beat (D) beaten

9. I can't help he is still alive.

(A) thinking (B) think (C) to think (D) thoughf

10. So far as I am concerned , I prefer reading .

(A) than meat (B) for joy (C) instead of sleeping (D) to drinking

11. It goes without that knowledge ia important.

(A) talking (B) telling (C) saying (D) mentioning

12. We are looking forward our friends next week.

(A) to see (B) to seeing (C) to be seeing (D) shall see

13. He spent a lot of money books and magazines.

(A) buy (B) buying (C) to buy (D)bought

14. The silkworm is an insect worth .

(A) to know (B) knowing (C) to.be known (D) being

15. She went out without good-bye to us.

(A)say (B) to say (C) saying (D) being a

16.The curious student kept on questions.

(A)asks (B) asking (C) to ask (D) asked

17.He is such a strange person ; there's what he'll do next.

(A) no knowing (B) not to know

(C) not known (D) being unknown

18. When she heard the bad news, she burst .

(A) into crying (B) out to tears (C) crying (D) out crying lg

19. You must never cross the street without the light to turn green.

(A) waiting (B) to wait (C) waiting for (D) to wait for

20. Scientists succeed protein out of old newspapers.

(A) to make (B) at making (C) making (D) in making

21. He wrote letter after letter, and it was well past midnight when he finished the last one.

(A) to write (B) written (C) having written (D) writing

22. None of us objected to George to the birthday party.

(A) invite (B) inviting (C) have invited (D) invited

23. To our surprise, he escaped in the accident.

(A) to be hurt (B) to have been hurt (C) being hurt (D) from hurting

24. I remember the house about an hour ago.

(A) to see him leave (B) to see him to leave

(C)to see him leaving (D) seeing him leave

25. going to the movies tonight~

(A) How about (B) Would you please

(C) Would you like (D) I don't mind to

26. Whatever Mr. Brown does, he does it with an eye to more money.

(A) make (B) be making (C) making (D) have made

27.You'll soon get used to early morning walks. It does wonderful things to your health.

(A) take (B) taking (C) be taking (D) be taken

28.He stopped me from telling her the secret by .

(A)judging from the fact (B) means of hard work .

(C) putting his finger to his lips (D) virtue of thrift

29.When you find something in your writing that needs , you mark it on the paper.

(A) to be correcting (B) correct (C) to correct (D) correcting

30. is extremely dangerous.

(A) Cars at very high speeds driving

(B) At very high speeds driving cars

(C) Cars dciving at very high speeds

(D) Driving cars at very high speeds

Many countries are experiencing difficult problems in desert are~. Poor land is farmed until it 1.

, and trees are cut for firewood 2. the soil against wind and rain.

Scientists do not understand all the problems of the deserts , but there have been many ideas for

3. the land. Saudi Arabia has planted 10 million trees 4. the sand from 5. fertile areas.

The spread of the deserts affects most countries. The big question today is how can an 6. world

population find food and space without 7. the land it lives on. For many countries , 8. the desert is

the only chance 9. starvation , destruction , 10. disaster.

1. (A) worn out (B) is worn out (C)has worn (D)to worn

2. (A) to leave (B) leaving (C)left (D)and left

3. (A) saving (B) being saved (C)saves (D)to save

4. (A) to help keep (B)help to keep

(C) to help keeping (D)being taken off

5. (A) taking over (B)taking off

(C) being taken over (D)being taken off

6. (A) expanding (B) expands (C)expanded (D)expand to

7. (A) to destroy (B) destroying (C)destruction (D)destroyed

8.(A) battling (B) battles (C)to battles (D)battled

9.(A) to avoid (B) avoid (C)avoided (D)be avoided

10.(A)and (B) else (C)or (D)but

Exercise on Participles1. I become after watching too much television.

(A) bored (B) boring (C) bore (D) bores

2. I felt by his interest in my new invention.

(A) encourage (B)to encourage (C) was encouraged (D) encouraged

3. He sat there a novel.

(A) read (B) reading (C) reads (D) had read

4. Don't wake up the child.

(A) sleep (B) slept (C) sleeping (D) sleepy

5. A proverb goes ; " A stone gathers no moss. "

(A) roll (B) rolling (C) rolled (D) rolls

6. The heavy rain kept us for two hours.

(A) wait (B) waited (C) waiting (D) to wait

7. I found a dog over by a car on the road.

(A) to run (B) run (C) ran (D) running

8. We found the baby on the floor.

(A) slept (B) sleep (C) asleep (D) sleeping

9. Jack saw a woman near the dog, so he walked up to her.

(A) stood (B) stands (C) to stand (D) standing

10. They got their car at the garage.

(A) be washed (B) washed (C) being washed (D) to have been washed

11. with his report , I told him to write it all over again.

(A) Dissatisfactory (B) Not being satisfied

(C) Having not satisfied (D) Dissatisfying

12. our shoes in our hands , we crossed the stream.

(A) To carry (B) Carrying (C) Carried (D) Carry

13. my homework , I went home.

(A) Having finished (B) Finished

(C) Being finished (D) Finish

14. the door unlocked , I went in.

(A)Finding (B) Found (C) Had found (D) Have found

15. a careless fellow, he forgot all about it.

(A) Is (B) Be (C) Being (D) Was

16. carefully, this letter is very beautiful.

(A) Type (B) Typing (C) Typed (D) To type

17.Animals can do many amazing things when properly .

( A)train (B)training (C)to train (D)to train

18. You must be careful when on the highway.

(A)you driving (B)are driving (C)driving (D)you were driving

19.If ,I will go to the party tonight.

(A)invite (B)inviting (C)to invite (D)invited'

20. Thousands of products from coal are now in daily use.

(A) made (B) make (C) making (D) to make

21. Engines are machines power or motion.

(A) produce (B) producing (C) produced (D) which producing

22. During this battle some soldiers were wounded , and some .

(A) miss (B) missed (C) missing (D) to miss

23. Weather , we will have a picnic tomorrow.

(A) permit (B) permits (C) permitted (D) permittiri

24.The vacation over, the students came back to school.

(A)is (B)are (C)was (D)being

25 ,we left off our work.

(A)After setting the sun (B)Haing set the sun

(C)The sun having set (D)Being the sun set

26.The hotel room was so dirty that I was and complained to the manager.

(A)ashamed (B)disgusted (C)disgusting (D)embarrassed

27.The speaker found himself all alone.

(A)leave (B)to leave (C)leaving (D)left

28.In the airport I met a man my cousin.

(A)who resembles (B)resembling (C)resembled (D)to resemble

29.Both history and geography are courses in our middle schools.

(A)required (B)to be required (C)requiring (D)being required

30.In many modern cities, Beijing ,congestion and air pollution have become real problems.

(A)includes (B)include (C)included (D)including

31.He devoted his five years to study and .

(A)remaining/learning (B)remained/learn

(C)remaining/learn (D)remained/learning

32. with the price of a fixed home today, mobile homes are truly .

(~ Compared/economical (B) Comparing/economical

Compared/economic (D) Comparing/economic f , 33.

painting, he gave a sigh of relief. (t~ invite

(A)compared/economical (B) comparing/economical

(C)compared/economic (D)comparing/economic

33. the painting, he gave a sigh of relief.

(A)Finishing (B)Has finished (C)Being finished (D)Having finished

34. by the roaring thunder, the baby burst out crying.

(A)To frighten (B)Frightening (C)Frighten (D)Frightened

35. ,he can quickly find out what is wrong with a television set and repair it.

(A)He has been well trained (B)Has been well trained

(C)Having been well trained (D)To have been well trained

36. by hunger, he stole a cake.

(A)Having driven (B)Driving (C)Being driving (D)Driven

37. the way to take, the traveller went on his yourney.]

(A)Telling (B)Having told (C)Having been told (D)Have told

38.The United States has developed into a modern nation in a very short time with many other

countries.

(A)compares (B)comparing (C)to compare (D)compared

39. , reports are prepared for busy administrators.

(A)To speak generally (B)Generally speaking

(C)General spoken (D)Speaking generally

40.The lesson by the teacher this moring is an unusually long one.

(A)being assigned (B)assigning (C)to be assigned (D)assigned

While 1. to the movies, I happened to see a terrible'i dent. A taxi 2. through a tra~c light

collided with a truck. The 3. taxi driver was sent to hospital 4. at downtown area mediately. As the

number of cars 5. , everyone has to strict; bey the traffic rules.

1. (A) I go (B) going (C) went (D)to go

2. (A) was run (B) was running (C) running (D) which rui

3. (A) injuring (B) injury (C) injured (D) to injure

4. (A)location (B) locates (C) locating (D) located

5. (A) increase (B) increasing (C) increased (D) increases