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 Participle
A participle is an adjective formed from a verb. To make a present participle, you add "-ing" to the verb. The second type of participle is the past participle. It is a little more complicated, since not all verbs form the past tense regularly.

Examples:
the crying baby
the sunken ship
a ruined city

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.

Participle
Stay away from running water.

The Infinitive
An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to+verb (in simple form) and functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Infinitives may function as subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

Examples: to fly, to draw, to become

Identify the verbals in the sentence.

1. To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required.
2. Everyone wanted to go.
3. The burning log fell off the fire.
4. he walked away from the wrecked car.
5. Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
6. He lacked the strength to resist.
7. She hugged the panting dog.
8. My cat's favorite activity is sleeping.
9. My friend went to my house.
10. To see is to believe.