verbal noun

Meaning

Noun

• A noun that is morphologically related to a verb and similar to it in meaning; in English, it contrasts with the gerund and the deverbal noun. It is a pure noun with no verbal force, so it cannot take an object or an adverb (as a gerund can), however, it can be part of a possessive construction (the visiting of a friend) and it can take an adjective (fast driving) as other nouns can. On the other hand, it still refers to the abstract act, process, or occurrence implied in the verb, as opposed to (e.g.) its result, as a deverbal noun does.

Related

Similar words

• verbal substantive
• masdar, nomen verbi