verbals (participles, gerunds, infinitives) · web viewword . note that only transitive verbs can...
Post on 04-Oct-2020
10 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Verbals (participles, gerunds, infinitives)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 fundamental difference between verbals and other nouns and adjectives is that verbals can
take their own objects, even though they are no longer verbs:
Gerund
Building a house is complicated.
In this example, the noun phrase “a house'' is the direct object of the verbal “building'', even
though “building'' is a noun rather than a verb.
The Participle
A participle is an adjective formed from a verb. To make a present participle, you add “-ing'' to
the verb, sometimes doubling the final consonant:
“think'' becomes “thinking''
“fall'' becomes “falling''
“run'' becomes “running''
The second type of participle, the past participle, is a little more complicated, since not all verbs
form the past tense regularly.
The following are all past participles:
the sunken ship
a ruined city
a misspelled word
Note that only transitive verbs can use their past participles as adjectives, and that unlike other
verbals, past participles do not take objects (unless they are part of a compound verb).
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. (“Running'' is a noun acting as the direct object of the verb “enjoy.'')
participle
Stay away from running water. (“Running'' is an adjective modifying the noun “water''.)
Using Verbals
There are two common problems that come up when writers use verbals. The first is that since
verbals look like verbs, they sometimes cause students to write fragmentary sentences:
[WRONG] Oh, to find true love!
[WRONG] Jimmy, swimming the most important race of his life.
The second problem is a very fine point, which most editors and some teachers no longer
enforce. Although they look the same, gerunds and present participles are different parts of speech, and
need to be treated differently. For example, consider the following two sentences:
I admire the woman finishing the report.
I admire the woman's finishing the report.
In the first example, “finishing'' is a participle modifying the noun “woman'': in other words, the
writer admires the woman, not what she is doing; in the second example, “finishing'' is a participle,
modified by the possessive noun “woman's'': in other words, the writer admires not the woman herself
but the fact that she is finishing the report.
VERBALS IN PASSIVE STRUCTURESVerbals or verb forms can also take on features of the passive voice. An infinitive
phrase in the passive voice, for instance, can perform various functions within a sentence (just like the active forms of the infinitive).
Subject: To be elected by my peers is a great honor.
Object: That child really likes to be read to by her mother.
Modifier: Grasso was the first woman to be elected governor in her own right.
The same is true of passive gerunds.
Subject: Being elected by my peers was a great thrill.
Object: I really don't like being lectured to by my boss.
Object of preposition: I am so tired of being lectured to by my boss.
With passive participles, part of the passive construction is often omitted, the result being a simple modifying participial phrase.
[Having been] designed for off-road performance, the Pathseeker does not always behave
well on paved highways.
Gerund or Infinitive as Object of Verb?
Gerunds and infinitives can both be used as subjects, subject complements, and direct objects of
verbs. The choice of whether to use a gerund or infinitive as a subject, subject complement, or object of
some verbs is left to the speaker/writer. This choice can indicate shades of meaning.
But the choice between which to use as a direct object is sometimes dictated by the verb, leaving
no choice. Which verbs can be followed by gerunds, which by infinitives, (and which by either) must
be memorized. In addition, some verbs require that an infinitive object have a different subject (agent)
from that of the first verb, for others no other agent is possible, and for some both are possible. Again,
these must be memorized. The general meanings associated with gerunds and infinitives can offer
clues, but do not always predict which forms are possible.
Remember, the question here concerns verbs which control gerunds and infinitives as their
objects. Of course, both infinitives and gerunds can follow an unlimited number of verbs for other
reasons. For example, infinitives can also follow verbs to show purpose, in reduced adjective or adverb
clauses, or with other meanings. Gerunds with noun modifiers can be the objects of many different
verbs. And present participles, which may look like gerunds, are not controlled by preceding verbs.
And remember that noun clauses can also be used as objects of many of these same verbs
VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OR GERUND OBJECTS,
with little or no difference in meaning:
____ studying.
____ to study.
can afford
can't bear
begin
cease
commence
continue
dread
hate
like
loathe
love
neglect
prefer
propose
(can't) stand
start
undertake
VERBS THAT CAN HAVE GERUND OBJECTS, BUT NOT INFINITIVES:
(usually actual events, often past)
_____ (his) studying
gerund subjects (agents) are usually possessive (his , etc.)
Admit
anticipate
appreciate
avoid
deny
detest
discuss
dislike
get through
give up
go on
can't help
mention
(not) mind
miss
postpone
recollect
recommend
report
resent
stop
suggest
take up
tolerate
complete
consider
defend
delay
enjoy
escape
excuse his
finish
imagine
involve
keep (on)
would like (him)
practice
put off
quit
recall
resist
resume
risk
(can't) see
understand
VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OBJECTS, BUT NOT GERUNDS:
(often suggesting a potential or unreal event)
_______ to study
him = infinitive must have a subject (agent)
for him = infinitive must have a subject introduced by for
(him) or (for him) = subject (agent) of infinitive is optional
(none of the above = verb is followed directly by the infinitive)
Agree
aim
appear
appoint him
arrange (for
him)
authorize him
ask (him)
beg (him)
(not) care
cause him
challenge him
choose (him)
claim
command
him
condescend
consent
convince
him
dare (him)
decide
demand
deserve
desire
direct him
enable him
endeavor
expect (him)
fail
force him
get (him)
happen
hesitate
hire him
help him
hope
instruct him
intend
invite him
lead him
learn
long
manage
motivate him
need (him)
oblige him
offer
order him
pay him
persuade him
plan
prepare (him)
pretend
proceed
promise
refuse
remind him
resolve
seem
select him
send him
strive
struggle
swear
tell him
tend
threaten
train him
trust him
volunteer
vow
wait (for him)
want (him)
warn him
wish (him)
yearn
VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OR GERUND OBJECTS,
but with a difference in meaning:
________ studying
actual:
first it happens; then there is mental
activity)
________ to study.
potential:
first there is mental activity about a possible
future event)
Attempt
forget
mean
regret
remember
try
do it, hoping for success
do it, then have a mental lapse
it exists, it has a significance
do it, then feel bad
do it, then be aware of it
do it, hoping for success
make an effort, hoping to do it
have a mental lapse, and therefore not do it
have an intention to do it
feel bad, but then do it
think about it, and then do it
make an effort, hoping to do it
VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OBJECTS WITH AGENTS, OR GERUNDS :
_______ studying
___ him to study
Advise
allow
encourage
forbidpermit require teach urge
Exercise
1. Teachers often suggest (study) harder as a recipe against negative marks. Nevertheless, many students risk (fail) tests, because they are lazy as hell. Then they complain about (to be treated) unfairly. Actually, they are not really interested in (increase) their knowledge.
2. He stopped (ask) a policeman for the way to Westminster Abbey.
3. I don't want him (come) here so often.
4. (look) at these photos is almost like (be) there.
5. After (to practise) a lot the band started a tour through Switzerland.
6. I forgot (tell) you that I don't like to play cards.
7. After finishing the HAK, some pupils wish (go) abroad for a year.
8. Before (start) your car, you should always buckle up.
9. Girls usually prefer (ride) horses to (play) computer games.
10. He entered the room without (see) me.
Correct the following sentences.
1. The writer Edgar Allen Poe is usually credited with invent the short story.
2. A single-lens reflex camera allows a photographer seeing exactly what the camera will photograph.
3. There are probably around 3000 languages speaking in the world.
4. For decades, journalist Theodore H. White wrote books described American presidential elections.
5. Nutmeg, widely is used as a spice, is actually the kennel of a tropical spice.
6. Viral infections are generally more difficult to treating than bacterial infections.
7. Sports parachutes are relatively easy controlling.
8. A sudden sound can make a golfer to miss a shot.
9. The largest knowing insects are found in tropical rain forests.
10. Hypnosis is sometimes employed as a means of helping people to quit to smoke.
Exercise on infinitives1.How soon do you expect for South America?
(A) to leave (B) be leaving (C) will leave (D) going to leave
2.It is useless for you to do this.
(A)try (B) to try (C) tries (D) to trying
3.I hope to the birthday party tonight.
(A) able to come (B) I shall able to come
(C) I shall can come (D) to be able to come
4.It is too Iate there.
(A) that we walk (B) for us walking (C) us to walk (D) for us to walk
5.He warned me swimming alone because of the rain.
(A) didn't go (B) not go (C) not to go (D) not going
6.The manager ordered the work .
(A) start at once (B) at once start
(C) to be started at once (D) to start at once
7.He finds it easy English as a foreign language.
(A) to learn (B) learning (C) learned (D) and learn
8.I think it a good habit early in the morning.
(A) to get up (B) got up (C) getting up (D) to getting up
9.All the clerks in the bank stopped to look at him.
(A) to write (B) write (C) written (D) writing
10.I am sorry , but I forgot the candy you wanted.
(A) to buy (B) buying (C) of buying (D) to have bought
11.Having worked for several hours, the manager stopped a rest.
(A) to taking (B) to take (C) taking (D) taken
12.When your country calls you for help , you cannot but
(A) to go (B) going (C) go (D) help going
13.The lazy young man does nothing but all day long.
(A) to play (B) playing (C) play (D) played
14.You had better what he has to say.
(A) hear (B) heard (C) hearing (D) to hear
15.You had better Mary about the party. It's a surprising birthday party for her.
(A)not to tell (B) not tell (C) don't tell (D) not tellin
16. When I was young, I play tennis quite well.
(A) was used to (B) used to (C) get used to (D) use to
17. people drink tea, but now more people like coffee.
(A) be used to (B) get used to (C) got used to (D) used to
18. The mother watched her children on the yard.
(A) to play (B) playing (C) was playing (D) played
19. I can hear the girl in the next room.
(A) sang (B) to sing (C) to singing (D) singing
20. There is something wrong with the engine. We must have at once.
(A) repair (B) repairing (C) to repair (D)understand
21. I tried very hard , but I couldn't make myself these tences.
(A) understanding (B) to understand (C) understand (D) understood
22. He is still unable to make himself in English ; his Eglish is too poor.
(A) understood (B) understands (C) understanding (D) understand
23. I don't know him well enough borrow money from him.
(A) to (B) so as to (C) as to (D) in order to
24. She is so foolish cry over a novel.
(A) to (B) as to (C) that (D) may
25. Come closer we can see you better.
(A) in order to (B) so that (C) so as to (D) and this
26. I am sorry you the other day.
(A) to offend (B) offending (C) to have offended (D) not to have off'ended
27. It's day to waste. Let's go for a walk.
(A) such a nice (B) so nice a (C) a such nice (D) too nice a
28. The words on the wall are be recognized.
(A) too vague to (B) too vague not to (C) so vague that (D) so vague as to
29. " Shall I walk you home~" " I don't mind if you do , but
(A) have to do (B) have to walk me (C) have (D) have to
30. It is over spilt milk.
(A)no use to cry (B) no use crying
(C) useless to crying (D) useless crying
31. to give up a bad habit.
(A) Bob is difficult (B) It is not difficult for me
(C) John is easy (D) Dick is impossible
32. I admit it was foolish of me what you hinted at.
(A) have not to understood (B) have to not understood
(C) to not have understood (D) not to have understood
33. He intended abroad last year, but his mother suddenly fell ill.
(A) to go (B) going (C) to have gone (D) having gone
34. Every time cigarettes go up in price , many people try .
(A) to stop to smoke (B) stopping to smoke
(C) stopping (D) to stop smoking
35. If people are unwilling to hear you, to hold your tongue.
(A) you had better (B) you had (C) it is better (D) hadn't you better
36. Be.cause of sir pollution being greatly reduced , this city is still .
(A) a good place which to live (B) lived as a good place
(C) a good place to live in (D) living as a good place
37. "I'll help you whenever you need me. " " Good- I'd like me tomorrow.
(A) you helping (B) that you will help
(C) you to help (D) that you help
38. " What did you hear last night?" " I seemed someone knock at the door. "
(A) hear (B) to have heard (C) to hear (D) having heard
39. John said that he had to run in order .
( A)that he catch the bus (B) that he can catch the bus
(C) to catch the bus (D) to the bus he could catch
Many Chinese students ever made up their minds 1. English when they began to learn it.
However, a few months later, they found 2. not so easy to master English as they 3. before. Of
course , there is no royal road to 4. . In my opinion , Chinese students should first of all form the
good habit 5. Dictionanaries whenever 6. any difficulty in learning it. Secondly,
they had better take good advantage of their vacation 7. a trip to foreign countries so that they may
widen their knowledge about English. But, the hest way 8. it is 9. more, speak more, listen more
and write more. As it plays a very important role in international affairs , the English lang'uage is really
well worth 10.
l. (A) to be good at (B) being good at (C) be good for (D) good at
2. (A) which (B) its (C) it (D) one
3. (A) had thought (B) have thought (C) thought of (D) think of
4. (A)learn (B) learning (C) learned (D) learner
5. (A) of consulting (B) by looking up (C) looking up (D) to consults
6. (A) they met (B) meeting (C) have met (D) to meet
7. (A) to take (B) taking (C) be taken (D) and takes
8. (A) of master (B) to master (C) mastered (D) mastering
9. (A) of reading (B) to read (C) to reading (D) reading
10. (A) us to learn (B) us leaming (C) our to learn (D) our learning
Exercise on Gerundl. Taking pictures very interesting.
(A) is (B) are (C) to be (D) be
2. the bad news made him cry.
(A) Hear (B) Heard (C) Hearing (D)Is hearining'
3. a desert has always been a risk adventure.
(A) Being crossed (B) Having crossed (C) Crossing (D) To have crossed
4. Before he came, I'd finished the whole book.
(A) to read (B) to have read (C) reading (D) read
5. I always enjoy to popular music at night.
(A) to listen (B) listening (C) that I can listen (D) if I can listen
6. We are considering a trip around the island.
(A) take (B) to take (C) to be taking (D) taking
7. I hope you don't mind at your newspaper.
(A) I look (B) my looking (C) I looking (D) mine to look
8. When a man's heart stops ,he dies.
(A) to beat (B) beating (C) beat (D) beaten
9. I can't help he is still alive.
(A) thinking (B) think (C) to think (D) thoughf
10. So far as I am concerned , I prefer reading .
(A) than meat (B) for joy (C) instead of sleeping (D) to drinking
11. It goes without that knowledge ia important.
(A) talking (B) telling (C) saying (D) mentioning
12. We are looking forward our friends next week.
(A) to see (B) to seeing (C) to be seeing (D) shall see
13. He spent a lot of money books and magazines.
(A) buy (B) buying (C) to buy (D)bought
14. The silkworm is an insect worth .
(A) to know (B) knowing (C) to.be known (D) being
15. She went out without good-bye to us.
(A)say (B) to say (C) saying (D) being a
16.The curious student kept on questions.
(A)asks (B) asking (C) to ask (D) asked
17.He is such a strange person ; there's what he'll do next.
(A) no knowing (B) not to know
(C) not known (D) being unknown
18. When she heard the bad news, she burst .
(A) into crying (B) out to tears (C) crying (D) out crying lg
19. You must never cross the street without the light to turn green.
(A) waiting (B) to wait (C) waiting for (D) to wait for
20. Scientists succeed protein out of old newspapers.
(A) to make (B) at making (C) making (D) in making
21. He wrote letter after letter, and it was well past midnight when he finished the last one.
(A) to write (B) written (C) having written (D) writing
22. None of us objected to George to the birthday party.
(A) invite (B) inviting (C) have invited (D) invited
23. To our surprise, he escaped in the accident.
(A) to be hurt (B) to have been hurt (C) being hurt (D) from hurting
24. I remember the house about an hour ago.
(A) to see him leave (B) to see him to leave
(C)to see him leaving (D) seeing him leave
25. going to the movies tonight~
(A) How about (B) Would you please
(C) Would you like (D) I don't mind to
26. Whatever Mr. Brown does, he does it with an eye to more money.
(A) make (B) be making (C) making (D) have made
27.You'll soon get used to early morning walks. It does wonderful things to your health.
(A) take (B) taking (C) be taking (D) be taken
28.He stopped me from telling her the secret by .
(A)judging from the fact (B) means of hard work .
(C) putting his finger to his lips (D) virtue of thrift
29.When you find something in your writing that needs , you mark it on the paper.
(A) to be correcting (B) correct (C) to correct (D) correcting
30. is extremely dangerous.
(A) Cars at very high speeds driving
(B) At very high speeds driving cars
(C) Cars dciving at very high speeds
(D) Driving cars at very high speeds
Many countries are experiencing difficult problems in desert are~. Poor land is farmed until it 1.
, and trees are cut for firewood 2. the soil against wind and rain.
Scientists do not understand all the problems of the deserts , but there have been many ideas for
3. the land. Saudi Arabia has planted 10 million trees 4. the sand from 5. fertile areas.
The spread of the deserts affects most countries. The big question today is how can an 6. world
population find food and space without 7. the land it lives on. For many countries , 8. the desert is
the only chance 9. starvation , destruction , 10. disaster.
1. (A) worn out (B) is worn out (C)has worn (D)to worn
2. (A) to leave (B) leaving (C)left (D)and left
3. (A) saving (B) being saved (C)saves (D)to save
4. (A) to help keep (B)help to keep
(C) to help keeping (D)being taken off
5. (A) taking over (B)taking off
(C) being taken over (D)being taken off
6. (A) expanding (B) expands (C)expanded (D)expand to
7. (A) to destroy (B) destroying (C)destruction (D)destroyed
8.(A) battling (B) battles (C)to battles (D)battled
9.(A) to avoid (B) avoid (C)avoided (D)be avoided
10.(A)and (B) else (C)or (D)but
Exercise on Participles1. I become after watching too much television.
(A) bored (B) boring (C) bore (D) bores
2. I felt by his interest in my new invention.
(A) encourage (B)to encourage (C) was encouraged (D) encouraged
3. He sat there a novel.
(A) read (B) reading (C) reads (D) had read
4. Don't wake up the child.
(A) sleep (B) slept (C) sleeping (D) sleepy
5. A proverb goes ; " A stone gathers no moss. "
(A) roll (B) rolling (C) rolled (D) rolls
6. The heavy rain kept us for two hours.
(A) wait (B) waited (C) waiting (D) to wait
7. I found a dog over by a car on the road.
(A) to run (B) run (C) ran (D) running
8. We found the baby on the floor.
(A) slept (B) sleep (C) asleep (D) sleeping
9. Jack saw a woman near the dog, so he walked up to her.
(A) stood (B) stands (C) to stand (D) standing
10. They got their car at the garage.
(A) be washed (B) washed (C) being washed (D) to have been washed
11. with his report , I told him to write it all over again.
(A) Dissatisfactory (B) Not being satisfied
(C) Having not satisfied (D) Dissatisfying
12. our shoes in our hands , we crossed the stream.
(A) To carry (B) Carrying (C) Carried (D) Carry
13. my homework , I went home.
(A) Having finished (B) Finished
(C) Being finished (D) Finish
14. the door unlocked , I went in.
(A)Finding (B) Found (C) Had found (D) Have found
15. a careless fellow, he forgot all about it.
(A) Is (B) Be (C) Being (D) Was
16. carefully, this letter is very beautiful.
(A) Type (B) Typing (C) Typed (D) To type
17.Animals can do many amazing things when properly .
( A)train (B)training (C)to train (D)to train
18. You must be careful when on the highway.
(A)you driving (B)are driving (C)driving (D)you were driving
19.If ,I will go to the party tonight.
(A)invite (B)inviting (C)to invite (D)invited'
20. Thousands of products from coal are now in daily use.
(A) made (B) make (C) making (D) to make
21. Engines are machines power or motion.
(A) produce (B) producing (C) produced (D) which producing
22. During this battle some soldiers were wounded , and some .
(A) miss (B) missed (C) missing (D) to miss
23. Weather , we will have a picnic tomorrow.
(A) permit (B) permits (C) permitted (D) permittiri
24.The vacation over, the students came back to school.
(A)is (B)are (C)was (D)being
25 ,we left off our work.
(A)After setting the sun (B)Haing set the sun
(C)The sun having set (D)Being the sun set
26.The hotel room was so dirty that I was and complained to the manager.
(A)ashamed (B)disgusted (C)disgusting (D)embarrassed
27.The speaker found himself all alone.
(A)leave (B)to leave (C)leaving (D)left
28.In the airport I met a man my cousin.
(A)who resembles (B)resembling (C)resembled (D)to resemble
29.Both history and geography are courses in our middle schools.
(A)required (B)to be required (C)requiring (D)being required
30.In many modern cities, Beijing ,congestion and air pollution have become real problems.
(A)includes (B)include (C)included (D)including
31.He devoted his five years to study and .
(A)remaining/learning (B)remained/learn
(C)remaining/learn (D)remained/learning
32. with the price of a fixed home today, mobile homes are truly .
(~ Compared/economical (B) Comparing/economical
Compared/economic (D) Comparing/economic f , 33.
painting, he gave a sigh of relief. (t~ invite
(A)compared/economical (B) comparing/economical
(C)compared/economic (D)comparing/economic
33. the painting, he gave a sigh of relief.
(A)Finishing (B)Has finished (C)Being finished (D)Having finished
34. by the roaring thunder, the baby burst out crying.
(A)To frighten (B)Frightening (C)Frighten (D)Frightened
35. ,he can quickly find out what is wrong with a television set and repair it.
(A)He has been well trained (B)Has been well trained
(C)Having been well trained (D)To have been well trained
36. by hunger, he stole a cake.
(A)Having driven (B)Driving (C)Being driving (D)Driven
37. the way to take, the traveller went on his yourney.]
(A)Telling (B)Having told (C)Having been told (D)Have told
38.The United States has developed into a modern nation in a very short time with many other
countries.
(A)compares (B)comparing (C)to compare (D)compared
39. , reports are prepared for busy administrators.
(A)To speak generally (B)Generally speaking
(C)General spoken (D)Speaking generally
40.The lesson by the teacher this moring is an unusually long one.
(A)being assigned (B)assigning (C)to be assigned (D)assigned
While 1. to the movies, I happened to see a terrible'i dent. A taxi 2. through a tra~c light
collided with a truck. The 3. taxi driver was sent to hospital 4. at downtown area mediately. As the
number of cars 5. , everyone has to strict; bey the traffic rules.
1. (A) I go (B) going (C) went (D)to go
2. (A) was run (B) was running (C) running (D) which rui
3. (A) injuring (B) injury (C) injured (D) to injure
4. (A)location (B) locates (C) locating (D) located
5. (A) increase (B) increasing (C) increased (D) increases
top related