(The Verbals)

The verb has finite and non-finite forms, the latter being also called verbals. The verbals, unlike the finite forms of the verb, do not express person, number or mood. Therefore, they cannot be used as the predicate of a sentence.

Like the finite forms of the verb the verbals have voice and aspect forms, can be modified by adverbs and can take direct objects.

There are three verbals in English:

the participle,

the gerund,

the infinitive.

The characteristic traits of the verbals are as follows:

1. They have a double nature, nominal and verbal. The participle combines the characteristics of a verb with those of an adjective; the gerund and the infinitive combine the characteristics of a verb with those of a noun.

2. The tense distinctions of the verbals are not absolute, but relative; the form of a verbal does not show whether the action it denotes refers to the present, past or future; it shows only whether the action expressed by the verbal is simultaneous with the action expressed by the finite verb or prior to it.

3. All the verbals can form predicative constructions, i.e. constructions consisting of two elements, a nominal (noun or pronoun) and a verbal (participle, gerund or infinitive); the verbal element stands in predicate relation to the nominal element, i.e. in a relation similar to that between the subject and the predicate of the sentence. In most cases predicative constructions form syntactic units, serving as one part of the sentence.

The Infinitive

In Modern English the infinitive, like the participle and the gerund, has a double nature, nominal and verbal.

1. The nominal character of the infinitive is manifested in its syntactic functions.

Syntactical Functions of the Infinitive

The Subject

to do smth

is (was, will be) would be means (meant)

necessary impossible a mistake to do smth

E.g. To tell her the truth under the circumstances is not at all necessary.

It

is was will be

necessary important interesting easy difficult strange simple nice

to do smth to be done to be doing smth

E.g. It is necessary to go and explain it to her.

The Predicative

The Subject of the sentence

is was will be

to do smth to be done

E.g. What I want is to be left alone.

The infinitive may be part of a compound verbal predicate.

E.g. Could you tell me the time?

The Object

to promise offer remember forget agree decide pretend want mean

to do smth to be doing smth to be done

E.g. She didn’t want to be seen in such company.

to be glad to be pleased to be astonished to be angry to be delighted to be afraid

to do smth to be doing smth to have done smth to have been doing smth to be done to have been done

E.g. They were astonished to have found me there.