This is enough to X

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This is enough to lure the graduates.I've been assuming that an infinitive (verbal) may take an object.  Am I correct?Many thanks for any help.   - A.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

Of course you are right, Avangi. Some examples of objects of infinitives:

I want to do it. To see the sun rise is an unforgettable experience. He may see us.

CB

Avangi · Answer

Thanks, CB.

(Do you think I'll ever find out which came first, the verb or the verbal?)

(Some learners speak as though they had been taught that the verbal has primary status, and the verb is an afterthought. Why do I let it bother me?)

Cool Breeze · Answer

Avangi(Do you think I'll ever find out which came first, the verb or the verbal?)

You may not find out which came first but you'll certainly learn their meanings here:

ver·bal adj.

1. of or pertaining to words: verbal ability.

2. consisting of or in the form of words: verbal imagery.

3. expressed in spoken words; oral rather than written: verbal communication; verbal agreement.

4. consisting of or expressed in words (as opposed to actions): a verbal protest.

5. pertaining to or concerned with words only (as opposed to ideas, facts, or realities): a purely verbal distinction between two concepts.

6. corresponding word for word; verbatim: a verbal translation.

7. using words: verbal facility.

8. based on the use of words (as opposed to other activity): a verbal score in a test; verbal IQ.

9. Gram.

a. of, pertaining to, or derived from a verb.

b. used in a sentence as or like a verb, as participles and infinitives.

–n.

10. Gram. a word, particularly a noun or adjective, derived from a verb.

[1485–95; < L verb!lis, equiv. to verb(um) word (see VERB) + -!lis -AL1]

—verÆbal·ly, adv.

—Syn. 3. spoken.

—Usage. 3, 4. VERBAL has had the meaning "spoken" since the late 16th century and is thus synonymous with oral: He wrote a memorandum to confirm the verbal agreement. Slightly earlier, VERBAL had developed the meaning "expressed in words, whether spoken or written (as opposed to actions)": Verbal support is no help without money and supplies. Although some say that the use of VERBAL to mean "spoken" produces ambiguity, it rarely does so. VERBAL is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard. The context usually makes the meaning clear: No documents are necessary; a verbal agreement (or contract or order) will suffice. Oral can be used instead of VERBAL if the context demands: My lawyer insists on a written contract because oral agreements are too difficult to enforce.

(Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary)

CB

Avangi · Answer

Cool Breeze[ver·baladj.
1. of or pertaining to words: verbal ability.

/
9. Gram.
a. of, pertaining to, or derived from a verb.

b. used in a sentence as or like a verb, as participles and infinitives.

–n.

10. Gram. a word, particularly a noun or adjective,derived from a verb. Ha. The chicken derived from the egg? Thanks again, CB

But you know this still leaves me in a quandary. Are we talking here about nouns and adjectives which are so described in the dictionary? These are not verbals, are they? And surely we can't be talking about gerunds. They are emphatically not verbals. Strange they don't mention participles and infinitives here under the noun useage - only under the adjective useage.
So according to useage 9.b., (adjective) we may not say that a participle or infinitive used as or like a verb is a verbal. We must say "it is a verbal word." In this definition, does the second "as" mean "used as" or "for example"? I'm assuming "as a verb" and "like a verb" mean two different things, right?

As you can see, I'm hopelessly confused. The more I try to sort this out, the more it seems in conflict with what I've recently learned about verbals and participles and infinitives.

On the EF site, "verbal" is used primarily as a noun, right?? The only noun useage given here, 10. , doesn't really seem to have anything to do with the way we use "verbal" on EF.

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