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I remember the moment I understood verbals — and it wasn’t in a classroom. I was reading a novel and encountered the sentence: “Running through the rain, she laughed at the absurdity of it all.” The word “running” floated off the page: Was it a verb? An adjective? How did it work? Once I realised that “running” was a verb-form doing the job of an adjective (describing “she”), the whole category clicked into place. Verbals are verbs that refuse to be verbs — they’re verbs doing other jobs (noun work, adjective work, adverb work). Once you see them that way, you’ll spot them everywhere in English, and your writing will become richer.
Below, I break down the three types of verbals with real examples in context, common patterns, and the mistakes students make most often. Whether you’re confused about gerunds taking objects, participles dangling at the start of sentences, or infinitives after specific verbs, you’ll find the answer here.
Key Takeaways
- Gerunds (–ing forms functioning as nouns) can be subjects, objects, or complements: “Running is my hobby.”
- Participles (–ing or –ed forms functioning as adjectives) modify nouns: “The broken chair” / “The running water.”
- Infinitives (to + base form) function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs: “To win is my goal.”
- Gerunds take objects and modifiers — “enjoying a long walk” is a gerund phrase, not a verb phrase.
- Dangling participles are a common error — always ensure the participle describes the subject of the main clause.
What Are Verbals?
Definition: Verbals are verb forms that function as other parts of speech — nouns, adjectives, or adverbs — instead of as the main verb in a clause. Because they are derived from verbs but do not function as verbs, they allow for greater complexity and nuance in English sentences.
Verbals retain some verb-like qualities (they can take objects and be modified by adverbs), but they do not serve as the main action or state in a sentence. For example, in “I enjoy reading novels,” the word “reading” is a verbal (it comes from the verb “read”), but it acts as a noun (the object of “enjoy”).
There are three types of verbals: gerunds, participles, and infinitives.
Gerunds: Verbs as Nouns
What Is a Gerund?
A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that functions as a noun. It can serve as the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or a complement.
| Function | Example | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Swimming is my favourite sport. | “Swimming” is what the sentence is about |
| Object of verb | She enjoys reading novels. | “Reading” is what she enjoys |
| Object of preposition | He is interested in learning French. | “Learning” follows the preposition “in” |
| Complement | My hobby is cooking. | “Cooking” renames/describes the subject “hobby” |
Gerunds in Context: 5+ Examples
Example 1 (present tense context): Reading poetry helps me relax after a long day at work.
Example 2 (past tense context): She had been considering studying abroad for two years before making the final decision.
Example 3 (gerund with object): Completing this project on time will require careful planning.
Example 4 (after preposition): They debated for hours about moving to a new city.
Example 5 (gerund phrase as subject): Running five miles every morning has improved his health significantly.
Example 6 (gerund as direct object): The children love playing video games during rainy afternoons.
Key fact about gerunds: A gerund phrase (gerund + its modifiers and objects) acts as a single noun. For example: “Writing a detailed essay” is one gerund noun-phrase, not two separate ideas. The whole phrase is the object of the verb “enjoy” in “I enjoy writing a detailed essay.”
Participles: Verbs as Adjectives
What Is a Participle?
A participle is a verb form that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. There are two types: present participles (ending in –ing) and past participles (ending in –ed or irregular forms).
| Present Participles (–ing) | Past Participles (–ed / irregular) |
|---|---|
| The running water is cold. | The broken vase sits on the shelf. |
| An exciting announcement surprised us. | The worn leather jacket is vintage. |
| The sleeping baby is in the crib. | The lost puppy was found yesterday. |
Participles in Context: 5+ Examples
Example 1 (present participle in formal context): The students submitting their essays early will receive extra credit.
Example 2 (past participle in past tense narrative): Frightened by the loud noise, the cat hid under the bed.
Example 3 (present participle describing action): The whistling wind made eerie sounds through the old house.
Example 4 (past participle as status): The scheduled meeting was postponed due to the manager’s illness.
Example 5 (participial phrase modifying subject): Covered in mud and soaking wet, the children ran laughing into the house.
Example 6 (past participle in complex sentence): Having finished their homework, the teenagers were finally allowed to go out with friends.
Infinitives: Verbs as Multi-Purpose Words
What Is an Infinitive?
An infinitive is a verb form consisting of “to” + the base form of a verb. Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, making them the most flexible verbal.
Structure: to + base verb (to run, to see, to write, to believe)
| Function | Example | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (subject) | To travel the world is my dream. | The infinitive phrase is the subject of “is” |
| Noun (object) | She wants to become a lawyer. | The infinitive phrase is the object of “wants” |
| Adjective | The best way to learn is through practice. | The infinitive modifies the noun “way” |
| Adverb (purpose) | He went to the store to buy milk. | The infinitive shows why he went |
Infinitives in Context: 5+ Examples
Example 1 (infinitive as subject, formal context): To master a foreign language requires consistent effort and dedication.
Example 2 (infinitive as object after modal verb): You must remember to submit your registration by Friday.
Example 3 (infinitive phrase as adjective): She gave me three reasons to reconsider my decision.
Example 4 (infinitive showing purpose): The volunteers worked late into the evening to complete the charity fundraiser.
Example 5 (infinitive after specific verb): After the argument, he chose to remain silent rather than escalate the conflict.
Example 6 (split infinitive in conversational context): The goal is to carefully and thoughtfully evaluate all options before deciding.
Common Patterns: Verbs Followed by Gerunds vs. Infinitives
One of the trickiest aspects of verbals is knowing which verbs take gerunds and which take infinitives. Here’s a quick reference:
| Gerund Pattern (verb + -ing) | Infinitive Pattern (verb + to) | Dual Pattern (both acceptable) |
|---|---|---|
| enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, keep, suggest, admit, deny | want, need, hope, plan, offer, decide, choose, fail | like, love, hate, prefer, begin, start, continue |
| Examples: I enjoy reading. She finished writing the report. |
Examples: I want to travel. He plans to retire soon. |
Examples: I love to read / I love reading. He began to speak / He began speaking. |
Memory trick: Verbs about finished actions often take gerunds (“finish reading,” “stop talking”). Verbs about future intent often take infinitives (“want to go,” “plan to visit”).
Verbal Phrases and Their Structure
A verbal phrase is a verbal plus its modifiers and complements. Understanding the structure helps you recognize verbals in longer sentences:
Gerund phrase structure: Gerund + object/complement + modifiers
Example: Reading novels (simple); reading classic novels about Victorian England (expanded phrase)
Participial phrase structure: Participle + object/complement + modifiers
Example: Broken (simple); broken after years of use (expanded phrase)
Infinitive phrase structure: to + verb + object/complement + modifiers
Example: To win (simple); to win the championship by training every day (expanded phrase)
Common Mistakes with Verbals
✗ Incorrect: Walking slowly, the bag was dropped.
✓ Correct: Walking slowly, she dropped the bag. (OR: As she walked slowly, the bag was dropped.)
Why: The participle phrase must modify the subject of the main clause. In the incorrect version, “bag” doesn’t walk — the implied subject doesn’t match.
✗ Incorrect: I enjoy to read novels in the evening.
✓ Correct: I enjoy reading novels in the evening.
Why: The verb “enjoy” takes a gerund (-ing), not an infinitive (to).
✗ Incorrect: After finish the project, we celebrated.
✓ Correct: After finishing the project, we celebrated.
Why: Prepositions (like “after”) take gerunds, not base verbs or infinitives.
✗ Incorrect: The excited and run child raced down the hallway.
✓ Correct: The excited, running child raced down the hallway.
Why: Use participial forms (excited, running) to function as adjectives, not base-form verbs.
✗ Incorrect: She wants finishing her degree before moving abroad.
✓ Correct: She wants to finish her degree before moving abroad.
Why: “Want” takes an infinitive (to finish), not a gerund (finishing).
Dialogue: Verbals in Natural Conversation
Leo: Hey Ana, I don’t understand why you say “I hate running” instead of “I hate to run.”
Ana: Both are correct! Some verbs like “hate” accept both gerunds and infinitives. But there’s a subtle difference.
Leo: What difference?
Ana: “I hate running” sounds like you dislike the activity in general. “I hate to run” sounds like you dislike doing it in a specific situation. They mean almost the same thing, but the feeling is slightly different.
Leo: That’s helpful. And what about participles? How do they fit in?
Ana: Participles are adjectives — they describe nouns. Like “a running joke” or “a broken heart.” They’re not about doing the action; they describe what the noun is like.
Leo: So gerunds are nouns, infinitives are flexible, and participles are adjectives?
Ana: Exactly. Once you remember those jobs, you’ll spot verbals everywhere.
Practice Quiz
Quick Quiz
- Identify the verbal type: “She loves swimming in the ocean.”
Answer: Gerund (functioning as the direct object of “loves”) - Is “to see” in “I want to see the movie” a gerund or infinitive?
Answer: Infinitive (it has the “to” marker) - Which is correct: “After finishing the project” or “After finish the project”?
Answer: “After finishing” — prepositions take gerunds - What verbal appears in “The sleeping cat on the couch”?
Answer: Present participle “sleeping” (functioning as an adjective modifying “cat”) - Which sentence is correct: (A) “I enjoy to read” or (B) “I enjoy reading”?
Answer: (B) “I enjoy reading” — “enjoy” takes a gerund
Answers: 1. Gerund · 2. Infinitive · 3. “After finishing” · 4. Present participle “sleeping” · 5. (B) “enjoy reading”
Related Verb Topics
- Irregular Verbs: Grammar Rule You Need to Master — essential for recognising past participles
- Linking Verbs: Complete List + Examples — understand verb types to recognise verbals
- English Verb Tenses: Complete Guide with Examples — tenses interact with verbals in complex ways
- Phrasal Verbs: Comprehensive Guide + 50+ Examples — phrasal verbs interact with gerunds and infinitives
- English Verbs: Types, Examples, and Usage
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Verbs (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both a gerund and infinitive after the same verb?
Sometimes. Verbs like “like,” “love,” “hate,” and “prefer” accept both. Example: “I like to read” and “I like reading” both work, with slight nuance differences. Other verbs (like “enjoy”) take only gerunds; others (like “want”) take only infinitives.
What is a dangling participle?
A dangling participle occurs when the participle phrase doesn’t clearly modify the main subject. Example: “Walking down the street, the store caught my eye.” (Who’s walking? The store isn’t — this is dangling.) Correct: “Walking down the street, I noticed the store.”
Is the “to” in infinitives always necessary?
Usually yes, but after certain verbs (called “bare infinitives”), the “to” is omitted. Example: “I can see you” (not “I can to see you”). Modal verbs (can, may, must, should, will) are followed by bare infinitives.
Can a gerund phrase include a preposition?
Yes. Example: “After running in the rain, she felt refreshed.” The gerund phrase includes the preposition “in.” This is common and grammatically correct.
How do I know if a word ending in –ing is a gerund or a present participle?
Check its function. If it’s a noun (subject, object, complement), it’s a gerund. If it’s an adjective (describing a noun), it’s a present participle. Example: “Running is fun” (gerund = noun/subject) vs. “A running dog is in the yard” (participle = adjective modifying “dog”).
What’s the difference between “to finish” and “finishing”?
“To finish” (infinitive) is often used with verbs expressing intention or future action: “I plan to finish.” “Finishing” (gerund) often follows verbs of completion or preference: “I enjoy finishing.” The infinitive points toward an action you plan; the gerund describes the action itself.
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