Question

Identify the verbal and its function in the sentence:

We were hoping to "begin" a game of chess. (5 points)
It is a participle functioning as an adverb.
It is a participle functioning as an adjective.
It is an infinitive functioning as an adverb.
It is an infinitive functioning as an adjective.

Answer 1

This is an infinitive, and it is used here as an adverb. 

Answer 2

In this sentence, “begin” is an infinitive functioning as an adverb.

A verbal is a verb form that is functioning as another part of speech. It can function as a noun, adverb or adjective. In this case, the verbal “begin” is modifying the verb phrase “were hoping”. As all single-word adverbs, infinitive adverbials can only modify verbs.