When to Use Verbals
Verbals show up in all sorts of places. It may take some focus to identify a verbal in a sentence, and it could be even more challenging to place a verbal correctly into a sentence one is building from scratch. Here is a guide on the various areas and ways to use verbals.
Verbals are nonfinite verb forms that do not serve as the main verb of a sentence. They could instead be a verb complement (as in Verb Patterns), a modifier (like an adjective or adverb), a noun, or the base of an entire phrase – and sometimes multiple of those options at once!
This page is an overview of the different ways verbals are used. The more common topics have their own pages that dive further in depth to their grammar points. To learn more about such topics, click on the links provided.
Active Participles
The Active Participle — aka the ‘Progressive Participle’ or the ‘Present Participle’ — is in the -ing form. It is used to express actions or states that are occurring in the moment and/or causing one related effect. They are used:
following 'Go'
As perhaps the ultimate expression of what Active Participles mean, ‘go’ + [verb]-ing is a statement of activity. Many applications of this are hobbies, routines, and/or physical activities.
This usage shows the subject’s actions with minimal regard to time reference.
go fishing
go swimming
goes shopping
went dancing
in Verb Patterns
In other words, “as Verb Complements”. Some resources instead say “after certain verbs”, which we at Insights feel is a little too vague. The pairing of those ‘certain verbs’ — the main verbs of a sentence — followed by verbal Complements are known as Verb Patterns. Active Participle Verb Patterns are ones whose actions are actual (not modal), progressive, and general (not specific).
Go to our Verb Patterns topic page for grammar details and guides on how to teach it well!
considered leaving
imagine flying
risks losing
keep singing
as Modifiers
-ing Participles often serve as adjectives, which we call ‘Active Adjectives’. See our Participle Adjectives page for details.
They can also serve as adverbs or as starters for phrases that can modify other parts of speech, much like prepositional phrases or modifier clauses can.
Note that modifiers might come before or after the thing they modify. Others can modify entire clauses.
a troubling revelation
pouring rain
the man standing over there
considering the alternative…
as Verbal Nouns
Active Participles can even function as nouns. Most of these represent activities. These can act as subject or object in a sentence. Any -ing word immediately following a preposition is almost certainly a Verbal Noun.
One special subset of -ing Verbal Nouns is Gerunds, which retain the properties both of verbs and of nouns.
Complaining won’t fix anything!
I just love swimming!
Don’t worry about messing up.
There’s no point in trying.
Passive Participles
The Passive Participle — aka the ‘Perfect Participle’ or the ‘Past Participle’ — is in the -ed/en form. It is a unique verb form in that it has some irregular verbs. The Passive Participle is used to express the effect of a previous or concurrent action. They are used:
in Verb Patterns
Passive Particles are less common than other verb forms as Verb Complements — that is, as the second part of Verb Patterns. There are only a few ‘certain verbs’ to start Verb Patterns that can be followed by Passive Participles. This small subset of Verb Patterns is called Causative Structure.
Causatives are special in that they generate something that lies between Active Voice and Passive Voice. Check out the Causatives page for more.
get it done
have the car cleaned
need it finished by tonight
force the door closed
as Modifiers
-ed/en Participles often serve as adjectives, which we call ‘Passive Adjectives’. See our Participle Adjectives page for details.
They can also serve as adverbs or as starters for phrases that can modify other parts of speech, much like prepositional phrases or modifier clauses can.
Note that modifiers might come before or after the thing they modify. Others can modify entire clauses.
a broken clock
potted plants
a car stranded in a ditch
abandoned by society…
Full Infinitives
The Full Infinitive — aka the ‘To Infinitive’ — starts with ‘to’ before the base verb. This form is used to express purpose or intent and is often future-facing. These Infinitives are used:
in Verb Patterns
Once again, some resources instead say “after certain verbs”, (and again the pairing of those ‘certain verbs’ – the main verbs of a sentence – followed by verbal Complements are known as Verb Patterns.) Active Participle Verb Patterns are ones whose actions are modal (including habituals), prospective (future-facing), or specific (instead of general).
Furthermore, some Infinitive Verb Patterns are not based on ‘certain verbs’, but can have countless possibilities so long as the second part (the infinitive complement) expresses the purpose for the first part (the main verb).
Finally, note that an indirect object can come in the middle of the verb pattern if the two verbs have different agents.
seemed to agree
loves to play
calling to apologize
need you to listen
as Verbal Nouns
Full Infinitives can function as nouns, typically serving the role of subjects or direct objects . Infinitives only follow prepositions that establish parallels with previous nouns (like prepositions of comparison, contrast, or exception). Infinitive nouns generally represent an intent or objective, but they can also represent habitual behavior.
The noun phrase might simply be the Full Infinitive alone, or it can include the infinitive’s predicate.
To live would be an adventure!
I want nothing more than to help!
To err is human.
What I need is to take a break.
as Modifiers
The ‘to’ of Full Infinitives can function much like the linker ‘in order to’ at the start of an adverbial phrase, once again communicating purpose or intent.
Full Infinitives can also start modifier phrases following adjectives pairs: either [linking verb + adj] or [adj + noun]
We left early to beat traffic.
He went to pick up supplies.
The last to finish is a rotten egg!
What’s the best way to travel?
after Generic Pronouns
Full Infinitives can follow question words / Relative Pronouns when they are not starting an interrogative sentence. Some of these are variations on indirect questions.
Infinitives can also follow Indefinite Pronouns like ‘somebody’, ‘anywhere’, ‘nothing’, ‘one’, etc.
Keeping with the theme, these are generally future-facing and convey intention.
She didn’t know what to do.
I’m considering whether to resign.
There’s nowhere to hide!
Find me someone to love.
Bare Infinitives
The Bare Infinitive — aka the ‘base form’ — does not have a ‘to’ in front, does not have any suffix, nor does it have any other changes to its form; it is exactly as you would see the word in a dictionary. This form has an overlap with the Present Simple form an similarly expresses the verb either without any specific time reference or duration, or with assumed immediacy. As verbals, these Infinitives are used:
in Verb Patterns
Though not as frequently-used as Full Infinitives in this regard, Bare Infinitives are sometimes used as verbal complements within Verb Patterns. They tend to fall into one of two groups:
Bare Infinitives can come after verbs of perception (like ‘see’ or ‘felt).
The also appear in the Causative Structure, most commonly after ‘let’, ‘help’, and ‘make’. In these cases, the main verb and the Infinitive probably have different agents (nouns who perform the actions).
saw her run away
make me laugh
help me get up
let’s go