In publishing this webpage, I hope that I have been able to offer teachers a fairly clear explanation of the function of words in a sentence so that they can bring this understanding to students who are not versed in the subtle workings of the English language.  It’s my contention that a thorough knowledge of grammar leads to a greater appreciation and more expressive use of language, just as the knowledge of food preparation produces a finer palate and better cooks. However, I did not intend to do more than briefly clarify the link between the form of verbals and the function of parts of speech. There is so much that needs to be said that I have not said.

I find that my students respond to online reading and exercises much more than do teachers who have grown up used to reading from a page (how many of you have to print out pages from a website to feel comfortable absorbing the information?). I tend to augment my lessons with self-directed exercises that I have found at the many online resources for teachers. (One great place to try is the Merlot site, but you can just Google your topic and take it from there.)

If you search the Internet for sites that explain verbals, you'll find much helpful information, but most of it is very similar to what I have covered in my pages, so I have only included links to pages that augmented these by covering some of the finer points related to verbals. Because the Internet itself constantly mutates, these links may break in time, despite my attempts to keep this site updated, and others may be added. I would appreciate any feedback concerning outdated or new pages.

To jump to the main site, click on the header; to get to their page on verbals, either click on the link in the text or the title that follows.

The OWL

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University is a treasure trove of clearly written explanations of things grammatical. Their page on verbals is full of good examples and a few short exercises. Their explanation of “actors” (when infinities “take a subject”) is quite interesting but could necessitate more detailed explanation of what constitutes a clause. The section on comparing the expressiveness of gerunds versus participles is also helpful, as are the discussions of the more subtle connections between the finite verb and verbals in sentences.

Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

Commnet

Capitol Community College in Hartford, Connecticut, produces a Guide to Grammar and Writing, an invaluable online resource for English teachers. Its coverage of verbals comes within a long and clear discussion of verbs, where some teachers might want to start their own lessons on “mutated verbs.” Helpful verbals-related topics covered on the Commnet page are how verbals can express “shades of time” and gerunds versus infinities in expressing actual and potential meanings of events.

Verbs and Verbals

 Ed Vavra’s "KISS" Course

 Professor Ed Vavra has developed an online, self-directed course in grammar that provides some extremely detailed and lively discussions on verbals. His explanation of the difference between gerundives (what we commonly call participles) and the participial form of a verb might seem to be splitting hairs to some, but in truth the mechanics of grammar depends on comprehending some very fine distinctions in meaning; these distinctions are exercises in the abstract, and so Dr. Vavra does teachers a service by allowing for greater perception of precise word use.

 Verbals