Here's a breakdown:
* Verbals are words formed from verbs but functioning as other parts of speech. They retain some of the characteristics of verbs, such as taking objects or being modified by adverbs, but they do not act as the main verb in a sentence.
* Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that act as nouns.
* Examples: *Swimming* is my favorite activity. (subject) I enjoy *reading* books. (object)
* Infinitives are the base form of a verb, usually preceded by "to". They can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
* Examples: *To travel* is my dream. (subject) I have a book *to read*. (adjective) She went *to sleep*. (adverb)
* Participles are verb forms that act as adjectives.
* Present participles end in "-ing". *The *running* water made a soothing sound.*
* Past participles often end in "-ed" or "-en". *The *broken* vase was beyond repair.*
In essence, verbals allow us to use verbs in a more flexible way within sentences, enriching the language and providing different grammatical functions.