What Are Verbal Nouns? (with Examples)
A verbal noun is a noun that has no verb-like properties despite being derived from a verb. This means that a verbal noun can be modified by adjectives, be pluralized (if the sense allows), and be followed by a prepositional phrase.
A verbal noun is different from a gerund. A gerund is a noun that, having derived from a verb, retains a few verb-like properties. For example, a gerund can be modified by an adverb and can take a direct object.
Examples of Verbal Nouns
Here is another example of a verbal noun (shaded):- This bad drawing of a dog is not acceptable for your project. (This is a verbal noun. It is acting just like a noun. Just like any noun could have, it has a determiner (This) and an adjective (bad), and it is followed by a prepositional phrase (of a dog).)
- Badly drawing a dog is not acceptable for your project. (This is a gerund. It is functioning as a noun, but it has two notable verb-like properties. Just like any verb could have, it has an adverb (badly) and a direct object (a dog).)
| Verb | Verbal Noun | Example in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| To build | building | It was a lovely building . The money will fund the building of a bridge. |
| To arrive | arrival | Their arrival has been delayed. |
| To repeat | repetition | I do not want another repetition of yesterday. |
| To decide | decision | That was an awful decision by the referee. |
| To attack | attack | He mounted a surprise attack with the Romans. (Note: With some verbs, the verbal noun is identical to the base form of the verb.) |
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