Verbal Nouns for intermediate learners
Sometimes we can change a verb and make it into a noun. One of the most common ways of doing this is adding the suffix -ing. Let's see what verbal nouns are!
What Are Verbal Nouns?
A verbal noun is a noun that is formed from a verb but is not considered a verb. It is a noun derived from a verb.
Verbal nouns can have plural forms. They can also come after determiners and adjectives.
Structure
Usually, we can form verbal nouns by adding a suffix (most commonly -ing) to the base form of the verb.
verb | verbal nouns |
---|---|
Cook |
cook |
Repeat |
repet |
Refuse |
refus |
Decide |
decis |
Sail |
sail |
Tip!
A verbal noun that is formed by adding a '-ing' suffix is also called a gerund.
How to Use Verbal Nouns
Like any noun, the verbal noun can have many functions. Here are a few common functions of verbal nouns:
I love
Please accept my compliments on
One of my hobbies is