When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To deliberalize (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to deliberalize" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

The government wants to deliberalize the economy.

Deliberalizing (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "deliberalizing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Deliberalizing the economy will have negative consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To deliberalize (Infinitive)

1Subject
To deliberalize would be a step backward for economic progress.
To deliberalize would be a step backward for economic progress.
- "*To deliberalize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (would be) + noun phrase (a step backward for economic progress).
2Object
They expect us to deliberalize the trade policies.
They expect us to deliberalize the trade policies.
- "Us *to deliberalize* the trade policies" is the object of the verb "expect."
- Noun (They) + verb (expect) + noun phrase (us *to deliberalize* the trade policies).
3Adjective Modifier
We need a plan to deliberalize the market.
We need a plan to deliberalize the market.
- "*To deliberalize* the market" modifies the noun "plan."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to deliberalize* the market).

Deliberalizing (Gerund)

1Subject
Deliberalizing is not the solution to economic problems.
Deliberalizing is not the solution to economic problems.
- "*Deliberalizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not the solution to economic problems).
2Object
She enjoys deliberalizing the financial sector.
She enjoys deliberalizing the financial sector.
- "*Deliberalizing* the financial sector" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
- Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*deliberalizing* the financial sector).
3Object of Preposition
He has concerns about deliberalizing the market.
He has concerns about deliberalizing the market.
- "About *deliberalizing* the market" is the object of the preposition "about."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (concerns about *deliberalizing* the market).

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

Example

They agree to deliberalize the financial sector.

The citizens demand the government to deliberalize the economy.

He refuses to deliberalize the labor laws.

The country struggles to deliberalize its trade policies.

I wish to deliberalize the regulations on small businesses.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

Example

They consider deliberalizing the economy as a last resort.

Economists recommend against deliberalizing the trade policies.

The government should avoid deliberalizing the labor market.

Can you imagine the consequences of deliberalizing the financial sector?

It is important to understand the implications of deliberalizing the market.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

Example

He would like to deliberalize the industry. He would like deliberalizing the industry.

He would like to deliberalize the industry.

They began to deliberalize the economy slowly. They began deliberalizing the economy slowly.

They began to deliberalize the economy slowly.

She stopped to deliberalize the market. She stopped deliberalizing the market.

She stopped to deliberalize the market.