The Verbal Noun

The Verbal Noun

There are two classes of nouns ending in –ing :

a.Individual nouns, which , though derived from verbs , lose their character entirely or partly :

beginning (inceput)

ending (sfarsit)

doing (fapta)

b. Abstractions, naming an action or state, but discharging no verba 515e47f l function :

beginning (incepere)

ending (terminare)

doing (facere)

As this category names an action or a state , the term “verbal noun” is quite adequate. Verbal nouns have noun-determinatives and can profitably grouped with abstractions of the type : whiteness , neighbourhood ; chiefly , with abstractions of the type : expectation (asteptare), fulfilment (indeplinire), exposure (expunere), contamination (molipsire)

The Verbal Noun and The Indefinite Gerund

There are grammarians which make differences between the verbal noun and the indefinite gerund, although they have the same form.

The gerund not only has the characteristics of a noun, but also those of a verb, while the verbal noun is simply a noun. Being a verbal noun, the gerund presents verbal characteristics which the verbal noun lacks :

- it has tenses and active and passive voices

- it can be characterized by an adverb

- it can have a direct object

But it does not have the characteristics of a proper noun (article and plural)

He told her about my having been married before.

(I-a spus ca mai fusesem casatorit)

I do not understand her leaving so early.(+adverb)

(Nu inteleg de ce a plecat asa de devreme)

Fancy meeting you ! (+ direct object)

The verbal noun, being only a noun, can have both articles and plural, it can be characterized by an adjective and it can determined by a genitive.

The number of tennis-players showed a slight falling-off.

He told me about the goings-on of the relatives and about Thomson’s doings.

(Mi-a spus despre venirea rudelor lui si despre ce facea Thomson)

(definite article , genitive)

The verbal noun became a real noun and it is considered a noun in dictionnaries

such as in :

a saying (o zicala)

the fitting (proba)

the launching (lansarea)

leavings (resturi)

his standing (reputatia lui)

Differences between the verbal noun and the indefinite gerund may be seen in the following comparative scheme :

The Verbal Noun The Indefinite Gerund

1. can be used as a subject or part 1. can only be used as part of a subject

of a subject in a sentence  in a sentence

Reading is usuful. His coming so late was unusual.

2.can be preceded by an article  2. cannot be preceded by an article

The reading of this book lasted -

two hours.

3.Can be accompanied by adjectives, 3. can be accompanied by adverbs and

but not by adverbs possessive adjectives

good reading his coming so late

4. cannot be accompanied by a direct 4. can be accompanied by a direct object

object Reading books is useful.

-

5. has no tense and voice distinctions 5. has “tense” and voice distinctions