You remember that in English there are only four forms of each verb: the present, the present participle, the past, and the past participle. Sometimes when you see these forms in a sentence, they are not actually being used as verbs.
Definition:
A verbal (or non-finite verb) is a verb form that is not being used as a verb. Verbals can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. There are three types of verbals: the present participle, the past participle, and the infinitive, which is formed by putting to in front of the present tense form. (A verb being a verb is called a finite verb.)
Verb: We were walking along the midway at the carnival. Verbal:Walking along the midway at the carnival, we ate our funnel cakes. (present participle)
Verb: All that dancing tired me out. Verbal:Tired out by all that dancing, I went home and collapsed. (past participle)
Verb: We always sing the National Anthem at the ball game. Verbal: I really like to sing. (to + present = infinitive)
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