The verbals

The verb has finite and non-finite forms (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 tense and voice distinctions, but their tense distinctions differ greatly from those of the finite verb.

There are 3 verbals in English: the participle, the gerund and 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 or an adverb; the gerund and the infinitive combine the characteristics of a verb with those of a noun.

He spoke through the locked door.Having reached the classroom, she became the object of many questions. To bathe in the sea is pleasant. He spoke of going to the mountains.

2. The distinction between the finite forms of the verb and the verbals is as follows:

the finite forms of the verb have always a subject with which they agree in number and person: I am a student. He is a student.

the verbids are not restricted in number and person by any grammatical subject: I hear them speak. I hear him speak. She/ I was sitting at the table reading a book.

Neither have the verbals mood distinction.

Accordingly, the verbals cannot express predication by themselves; they can be only part of the predicate and as part of the predicate they must always be in connection with finite forms of the verb: She began putting her notes in order.You may come at any time you like.He ought to have been present at the meeting.

3. In common with the finite forms of the verb all the three verbals have voice and tense distinctions:

to write is the active voice of the indefinite infinitive;

to be written is the corresponding passive form;

writing is the present participle in the active voice;

being written is the passive voice.

The tense distinctions of the verbals are not absolute (like those of the finite verb), 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:

I see him run. I saw him run. I’ll see him run. Having finished my lessons, I usually go home. Having finished my lessons, I went home. Having finished my lessons, I’ll go home.

Besides distinctions of voice and tense, the three verbids retain also the following characteristics of the finite forms of the verb from which they are formed:

a) If the verb is a transitive one, they can take a direct object:

I intend to read this book. She was sitting in an arm-chair reading a book. Reading good books is a pleasure.

b) In common with the finite forms of the verb the infinitive, gerund and participle are modified by adverbs:

To speak English fluently is difficult. Writing quickly tires my hand. He came in laughing loudly.

4. 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: I saw him leave the room. They sat down to supper, the boy still talking cheerfully. Would you mind my coming in?

На основе учебного пособия The Verb: The Category of Mood. Non-finite Forms. Навчально-методичний посібник з граматики англійської мови для студентів ІІ курсу / Уклад. Т. І. Шавлюк. – Горлівка, 2012. – 96 с.