Verbal noun
A verbal noun is a noun formed directly as an inflexion of a verb or a verb stem, sharing at least in part its constructions. This term is applied especially to gerunds, and sometimes also to infinitives (see Infinitive mood) and supines.
Examples of the verbal noun in English sentences:
- The question of being is an intrinsic part of philosophy. (being is a gerund)
- To speak is not to listen. (to speak and to listen are infinitives acting as nouns; in other words: Speaking means that one is not listening; here, speaking is a gerund, and listening a present participle)
- Going is hardly as easy as standing. (going and standing are imperfect participles, or infinitives in -ing acting as nouns; in other words, gerunds)
Some claim that true nouns sharing the stem of their respective verbs are also verbal nouns (such as survival from survive), but that this should be so is absurd, for if this were the case, almost every noun would actually be a verbal noun, which is hardly the case.
