Question

Identify the verbal and its function in the sentence:
We were hoping to begin a game of chess. (begin is in italics)

It is a participle functioning as a noun. It is a participle functioning as an adjective. It is an infinitive functioning as an adverb. It is an infinitive functioning as a noun.

Answer 1

The verbal in this sentence is "hoping to begin".

Its function in the sentence is:
(C) It is an infinitive functioning as an adverb.

• ‘hoping' here isn't a participle because if you remove it from the sentence, it won't make sense. On the other hand, participles can be removed and the sentence will still make sense.

• ‘hoping’ is a verb and adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or adverbs, so it's an infinitive functioning as an adverb.