verbal
/ˈvɜːbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvɜːrbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvər-bəl/ (ame, mw)
verbal — 形容詞
- verbalpositive
- more verbalcomparative
- most verbalsuperlative
1. communicated by speaking rather than being put into writing; given through speec
口頭
以說話方式進行的，非書面
communicated by speaking rather than being put into writing; given through speech instead of in written form.
Lucas gave a verbal warning before he sent the formal written complaint.
Lucas 在發出正式書面投訴之前先給了口頭警告。
verbal + warning for spoken communication
The two managers reached a verbal agreement during their lunch meeting.
兩位主管在午餐會議期間達成了口頭協議。
verbal + agreement
Kenji's verbal report was more detailed than the summary he wrote later.
Kenji 的口頭報告比他後來寫的摘要更詳細。
Students who heard the verbal instructions understood the task much better.
聽到口頭說明的學生對任務的理解好得多。
Padma preferred verbal feedback because she could ask questions right away.
Padma 偏好口頭回饋，因為她可以馬上提出問題。
- written
expressed in writing rather than speech
文法句型
verbal + noun
用法筆記
This sense contrasts with 'written' — a verbal agreement carries legal weight in some contexts but is harder to prove than a written one.
常見錯誤
2. connected with words and how people express ideas through language; using words
語言的
與詞語或語言能力有關的
connected with words and how people express ideas through language; using words instead of pictures, numbers, or actions.
The verbal section of the test measures vocabulary and reading comprehension.
考試的語文部分測驗詞彙與閱讀理解能力。
verbal section / verbal reasoning
Children with strong verbal skills often enjoy telling stories and writing.
語言能力強的孩子通常喜歡講故事和寫作。
Talia's verbal memory was so sharp that she could recite poems word for word.
Talia 的語言記憶力非常強，可以逐字背誦詩歌。
A good lawyer needs excellent verbal reasoning and argument skills.
優秀的律師需要出色的語言推理與論辯能力。
Arjun's verbal score was the highest in his class on the entrance exam.
Arjun 在入學考試的語文成績是全班最高的。
- linguistic
more formal; relates to language as a system (linguistic analysis)
- word-based
descriptive alternative; less technical
- lexical
relates specifically to vocabulary; formal and technical
- non-verbal
not involving words (body language, facial expressions)
文法句型
verbal + noun
用法筆記
Common in fixed phrases like 'verbal skills', 'verbal reasoning', and 'verbal ability' — often contrasted with 'numerical', 'visual', or 'non-verbal' rather than 'written'.
常見錯誤
3. having the ability to speak; capable of expressing thoughts through spoken langu
能說話的
具備以口語表達的能力
having the ability to speak; capable of expressing thoughts through spoken language.
The toddler became fully verbal around the age of two.
這個幼兒大約在兩歲時就能夠完整說話。
After the accident, the patient was conscious and verbal.
事故發生後，患者意識清楚且能夠說話。
be + verbal — capacity for speech
Some children with the condition are non-verbal and use signs to communicate.
患有此狀況的有些兒童無法說話，而是用手勢溝通。
The therapist worked with non-verbal students to develop alternative communication.
治療師與無法說話的學生一起努力，培養替代性的溝通方式。
Isabela's son was slow to become verbal but caught up by kindergarten.
Isabela 的兒子說話發展較慢，但到了幼兒園時就跟上了。
- speaking
general term; less technical
- communicative
broader; includes non-verbal communication
- articulate
implies clarity and fluency, not just ability
- non-verbal
unable to communicate through speech
- mute
stronger term; permanently unable to speak
文法句型
be + verbal
用法筆記
Frequently used in medical and developmental contexts, often in the negative form 'non-verbal' to describe people who cannot speak. Used predicatively — 'the patient is verbal', not 'a verbal patient' (in this sense).
常見錯誤
4. concerning verbs or coming from a verb; describing grammar forms that are based
動詞的
與動詞有關或由動詞構成的
concerning verbs or coming from a verb; describing grammar forms that are based on a verb but act as another word type.
A gerund is a verbal noun that ends in '-ing'.
動名詞是以 -ing 結尾的動詞性名詞。
verbal noun — noun form of a verb
The class studied how verbal adjectives differ from ordinary adjectives.
全班同學研究了動詞性形容詞與一般形容詞的差異。
In English, participles are verbal forms that can act as adjectives.
在英文中，分詞是可以擔任形容詞的動詞形式。
Ezra explained the difference between a finite verb and a verbal noun.
Ezra 解釋了限定動詞和動詞性名詞之間的差別。
Understanding verbal inflection helps when learning irregular verb patterns.
了解動詞的屈折變化有助於學習不規則動詞的變化模式。
- verb-derived
descriptive alternative; less technical
- deverbal
formal linguistic term for words formed from verbs
文法句型
verbal + noun
用法筆記
Technical grammar terminology. A 'verbal noun' (also called gerund) ends in '-ing' and functions as a noun. A 'verbal adjective' (also called participial adjective) is a participle used to describe a noun. Only sense that refers to grammar, not general communication.
常見錯誤
verbal — 名詞
1. a word created from a verb that takes on a different grammatical role, such as a
動詞派生詞
從動詞衍生出的詞類（動名詞、不定詞等）
a word created from a verb that takes on a different grammatical role, such as a gerund, infinitive, or participle.
In the phrase 'running water,' the word 'running' is a verbal.
在短語 running water 中，running 這個字是動詞派生詞。
identifying a verbal in a phrase
The teacher asked students to find all the verbals in the paragraph.
老師要求學生找出段落中所有的動詞派生詞。
Gerunds, infinitives, and participles are the three main types of verbals.
動名詞、不定詞和分詞是動詞派生詞的三種主要類型。
Christopher struggled to distinguish between a finite verb and a verbal.
Christopher 難以區分限定動詞和動詞派生詞。
Learning to recognise verbals improves a student's understanding of sentence structure.
學會辨識動詞派生詞有助於學生理解句子結構。
- deverbal
more technical; refers specifically to words formed from verbs
- non-finite form
broader category that includes verbals and other verb forms
文法句型
a verbal
the verbal
用法筆記
A technical grammar term not commonly used outside language classrooms. In practical English, terms like 'gerund', 'infinitive', and 'participle' are more frequently used than the umbrella term 'verbal'.