Final answer:
A verbal is a word derived from a verb that serves different grammatical functions such as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, while retaining verb characteristics. Option b is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
A verbal is a word derived from a verb that has different grammatical functions. In English grammar, verbals function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs but maintain characteristics of a verb. An example of a verbal functioning as a noun is the word “eating” in the sentence “Eating an apple a day can keep the doctor away.”
Here, “eating” retains the characteristics of a verb but serves as the subject of the sentence, therefore functioning as a noun.It is essential to differentiate between the form and function of words in sentences.
The form of a word is its part of speech, while its function is how it is used in a sentence. Verbals can take the forms of infinitives (to run), gerunds (running), or participles (run, running), and their function can change based on how they’re used in the sentence.