There are three verbals in English: the Infinitive, the Gerund and the Participle. The verbals are forms of the verb, but they have peculiarities of their own. The verbals are not restricted in number and person by any grammatical subject. The verbals do not have mood distinctions either. 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. E.g. He rose quickly and began to select books for me from the shelf (Cronin). The tenses of the finite forms indicate the time of the action. The forms that are called tenses in the verbals comprise relative time indication; they usually indicate whether the action expressed by the verbal: a) coincides with the action of the finite form of the verb in the present, past or future or b) is prior to the action of the finite forms of the verb in the present, past or future. The verbals perform different functions in the sentence.
The Infinitive is used:
1. As subject: To go far away and quickly was the only thing to do (Galsworthy).
2. As predicative: Her greatest joy was to receive letters every week and to write long replies.
3. As part of a compound verbal predicate: She mustspeak now or not at all (Cronin). The child wanted to slip down from its mother’s lap on to the floor of the car… (Bennett).
4. As object. The objective infinitive is primarily used in this function: Florence entreated him to take her to some neighbouring shop… (Dickens).
5. As attribute: There were many things to be brought from the beach and stored in the outhouse… (Dickens).
6. As an adverbial modifier of purpose: Then all the lads climbed to the top of the rock to look round (Lawrence).
7. As adverbial modifier of resultor consequence: I was too much disturbed to goto bed myself… (Snow). It was too dark to distinguish anything.
The Gerund is used:
1. As subject: Avoiding difficulties is not my method (Snow). Watching and ministring Kit was her best care (Galsworthy).
2. As predicative: His first job was getting her tea (Cusack). Their aim is mastering English in the shortest time possible.
3. As part of a compound verbal predicate: She began clipping the flowers and arranging them in a vase (Voynich). On his way home Andrew could not help reflecting what a charming fellow Ivory had turned out to be… (Cronin).
4. As direct object: Ruth took delight in playing and singing for Martin (London). Everybody was surprised at this difficult question having been solved so quickly.
5. As prepositional object: They talked of going somewhere else afterwards… (Dreiser). He was never tired of talking to me about her, and I was never tired of hearing (Galsworthy).
6. As adverbial modifier of time: After writing a few papers, however, I became for some reason discontented and laid them aside for a time (Conrad).
7 As adverbial modifier of manner: The rain poured down without ceasing (Maugham). The whole day was spent in packing things (Jerome).
The Participle is used:
1. As attribute: We went on together through the frosty air and gathering fog towards the twinkling lights of the town (Dickens). The air ruffling through the window smelled of the sea (Mansfield). His sister’s eyes, fixed on him with a certain astonishment, obliged him at last to look at Fleur… (Galsworthy).
2. As predicative: The dark woods were touched here and there with red and golden leaves… (Chesterton). James grew more and ore alarmed (Galsworthy). He was too tired to go any further (Hemingway). The results of the experiment were shocking for the young scientists.
3. As adverbial modifier of time: Looking back upon that time, I thought that all might have been different had it not been for the interference of my parents (Dickens). Hearing this and learning that Mr. Peggotty was there, I determined to go to the house at once (Dickens). She put down her book on seeing me come in; and having welcomed me as usual took her work-basket and sat in one of the old-fashined arm-chairs (Dickens). When dressed, I sat a long time by the window, looking over the silvered fields (Bronté).
4. As adverbial modifier of cause: Feeling tired and having nothing more to do till the train left, Jude sat down on one of the sofas (Hardy). Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentleman withdrew (Dickens). Being of a nervous temperament, she trembled at her enterprise (Hardy).
5. As adverbial modifier of manner or attending circumstances: Soames stood invisible at the top of the stairs watching Irene sort the letters brought by the last post (Hardy). The captain walked up and down looking straight before him (Conrad).
6. As adverbial modifier of comparison: Lincoln raised his eyes, looked at her asthough peering over the tops of spectacles (Stone). She recrossed her legs comfortably, as though preparing for a long session on the sofa (Snow). For a moment the trio stood as if turned to stone (Murdoch). He looked at her for a moment as though amazed at her friendliness (Greene).
7. As adverbial modifier of concession: Though asked many times for help, Andrew kept silent (Cronin).
8. As part of a complex object: We saw behind us thousands and thousands of white gulls dipping, wheeling, brushing the water with their wings… (Galsworthy). He found her sitting at the breakfast table, and the meal began, almost in silence (Hardy).
Thus, besides the features common to the English verb as a whole, the verbals have certain features of their own distinguishing them from the finite verb.
Their lexico-grammatical meaning is of dual nature. The verbal meaning of “action, process” is presented as some kind of substance (gerund, infinitive) or quality (participle).
III. Practical task
Task I. State the functions of infinitives in the following sentences:
1. He came into the room to shut the windows. 2. He seemed to know everything about influenza and said there was nothing to worry about. 3. Do you want me to read to you? 4. They said the boy had refused to let anyone come into the room. 5. Don’t make me laugh. 6. It took me about five minutes to work out how much a suit at nine and a half guineas would cost. 7. The British museum is much too big to be seen in an hour or so. 8. It was necessary to make it in a day, just on Monday. 9. She was sitting near enough to see his face.
Task II. Put “to” where necessary before the infinitives:
1. The teacher made me … repeat it all over again. 2. You needn’t … ask for permission, I let you … take my books whenever you like. 3. Will you help me … move the table? 4. You seem … know there places very well. 5. You had better … make a note of it. 6. I heard the door … open and saw a shadow … move across the floor. 7. He told me … try … do it once again. 8. I’d rather … walk a little before going to bed. 9. There is nothing … do but … wait till somebody comes … let us out. 10. You ought not … show your feelings. 11. Why not … wait a little longer? 12. I felt her … shiver with cold. 13. Rose wanted them … stop laughing, wanted the curtain … come down.
Task III. Translate the sentences into English, using the Complex Object or the Complex Subject:
1. Його змусили звернутися до лікаря. 2. Виявляється, він нічого про це не чув. 3. Здається, ви засмучені. Щось трапилось? 4. Я ніколи не бачила, як танцює Джейн Бак. 5. Я спала і не чула, як вони пішли. 6. Батьки завжди зочуть, щоб їхні діти виросли чесними людьми. 7. Я вважаю, що це було несправедливо з вашого боку. 8. Хто дозволив вам розпоряджатися моїми речами? 9. Він відчув, як сили повертаються до нього. 10. Ніщо не могло змусити його змінити прийняте рішення. 11. Очікується, що зима цтого року буде суворою.
Task IV. Comment on the functions of the Gerund in the following sentences
1. Looking after children requires patience. 2. It is no use discussing it now. 3. What he loves best in the world is playing football. 4. The main thing to do in this situation is getting away as soon as possible. 5. The car began moving away down the road. 6. Every second he kept glancing at the clock. 7. Do you mind seeing these photos again? 8. I dislike reminding you continually of the things you ought to have done. 9. He was busy getting ready for the journey. 10. She knew that there was a danger of falling ill. 11. I walked to my place as fast as I could without breaking into a run. 12. By studying early in the morning he saved a good deal of time. 13. On reading her letter he had once more a feeling of disappointment.
Task V. Use the appropriate form of the Gerund of the verbs in brackets:
(to speak) without (to think) is (to shoot) without aim. 2. Do you know what is peculiar about the English rule of (to drive)? 3. I remember (to take) to Paris when I was a very small child. 4. I strongly suspect Gerald of (to know) all about it beforehand. 5. Excuse me for not (to write) more at the moment. 6. He had an air of (to be) master of his fate, which was his chief attraction. 7. I want to thank her for (to look) after the children while I was out. 8. I don’t mind (to stay) here for a little time. 9. Are you going to keep me (to wait) all day? 10. They reproached us for (not to come) to the party; they were waiting for us the whole evening. 11. He suspected her of (to give) to the police information about him while the workers were on strike. 12. I sat on the doorstep thinking over my chances of (to escape) from home. 13. There is very little hope of the work (to do) in time.
Task VI. Translate into English, using the Gerund:
1. Я не люблю проводжати. Я віддаю перевагу тому, щоб проводжали мене. 2. Вам не слід було наполягати на тому, щоб вам говорили правду. 3. Те, що він прийшов, змінює справу. 4. Я пам’ятаю, що поклала гроші в сумку. 5. Я не можу дозволити собі купляти такі дорогі речі. 6. Ви нічого не маєте проти того, щоб він зайшов до вас сьогодні? 7. Вона продовжувала говорити, не зважаючи на наші слова. 8. Він сердився на нас за те, що ми його потурбували. 9. Думка про те, щоб сказати їй все відверто, лякала його. 10. Ми хотіли провести її, але вона наполягала на тому, що дійде сама. 11. Я не пам’ятаю, щоб він коли-небудь звертався до мене з подібним проханням. 12. Замість того, щоб обдумати питання як слід, вона одразу відмовилась. 13. Що завадило вам поїхати разом з нами? 14. Почувши віддалений крик, він зупинився і прислухався. 15. Вона дала мені зрозуміти, що помітила мене, ледве кивнувши головою.
Task VII. Point out the First Participle and state its functions in the sentence:
1. She sat very still, and the train rattled on in the dying twilight. 2. I sat quite silent, watching his face, a strong and noble face. 3. He wished to say something sympathetic, but, being an Englishman, could only turn away his eyes. 4. She was always to him a laughing girl, with dancing eyes full of eager expectation. 5. It was a bright Sunday morning of early summer, promising heat. 6. The door opened and he entered, carrying his head as though it held some fatal secret. 7. I’m afraid it’s the moon looking so much a slice of melon. 8. Lying he spoke more quickly than when he told the truth. 9. I hadn’t slept the night before, and, having eaten a heavy lunch, was agreeably drowsy. 10. As he wrote, bending over the desk, his mouth worked.
Task VIII. Translate into English, using the First Participle:
1. Будьте обережні, переходячи вулицю. 2. Написавши твір, вона почала готувавти інше завдання. 3. Студенти, які не приділяють достатньо уваги граматиці, ніколи не опанують англійську мову. 4. Ми сиділи в саду і розмовляли про нашу поїздку по Волзі. 5. Збігши зі сходів, вона зупинилась на мить, ніби вагаючись, в якому напрямку піти. 6. Пояснивши все детально, він спокійно сів на своє місце. 7. Опинившись одна на вулиці, вона одразу пожалкувала про те, що трапилось. 8. Схопивши сина, Еліза кинулась бігти. 9. Молодий чоловік, який стояв біля вікна, уважно подивився на мене. 10. Помітивши мене, вона одразу зупинилась.
Task IX. State whether the -ing form is a participle, a gerund or a verbal noun:
1. To my mind the setting of the scene was beautiful. 2. As to his stooping, it was natural when dancing with a small person like myself, so much shorter than he. 3. I found him in exactly the position I had left him, staring still at the foot of the bed. 4. If possible, give up smoking, at least for a time. 5. There you can see the Fire of London with the flames coming out of the windows of the houses. 6. Having finished the work, he seemed more pleased with himself than usual. 7. Pausing in his story, Burton turned to me. 8. I admired the grounds and trees surrounding the house. 9. Father said that we were not to let the fact of his not having had a real holiday for three years stand in our way. 10. I am much pleased with my surroundings. 11. I want you to give my hair a good brushing. 12. The boys could not go without permission. 13. Colleges give a specialized training.
Task X. Point out the “Absolute Nominative Construction” and translate sentences into Ukrainian:
1. My task having been finished, I went to bed. 2. Peter being away, Alexander had to do his work. 3. It being very cold, they made a fire. 4. It being very stormy, they stayed at home. 5. All this having been settled, he went home. 6. The preparations being completed, they began to climb up the mountain. 7. The moon being bright, everything was clearly visible. 8. The contract quantity was 5,000 tons, the sellers having an option to deliver 2 per cent more or less. 9. With the shipping strike in the United States still going on, arrivals of America cotton in Liverpool were rather small.
Task XI. Translate into English, using The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction:
1. Оскільки часу залишилось небагато, ми змушені були поспішати. 2. Був чудовий день, у небі не було ні хмаринки. 3. Оскільки робочий день закінчився, ми пішли додому. 4. Якщо серпень буде теплим, я поїду до моря. 5. Хлопчик стояв мовчки, його очі були опущені. 6. Коли фільм закінчився, люди залишили зал. 7. Він був один, свою ненависть він сховав глибоко в серці.
