To Absent vs Absenting Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

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

To absent (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to absent myself from the meeting.

Absenting (Gerund)

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

Example

Absenting yourself from important meetings is not professional.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To absent (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To absent is not an option for me.

  To absent is not an option for me.

  • "*To absent*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not an option for me).
• 2. Object

  She expects him to absent himself from work.

  She expects him to absent himself from work.

  • "Him *to absent* himself from work" is the object of the verb "expects."
  • Noun (She) + verb (expects) + noun phrase (him *to absent* himself from work).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a valid reason to absent ourselves from class.

  We need a valid reason to absent ourselves from class.

  • "*To absent* ourselves from class" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a valid reason *to absent* ourselves from class).

Absenting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Absenting yourself from work can have consequences.

  Absenting yourself from work can have consequences.

  • "*Absenting* yourself from work" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can have) + noun phrase (consequences).
• 2. Object

  I dislike absenting myself from team activities.

  I dislike absenting myself from team activities.

  • "*Absenting* myself from team activities" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*absenting* myself from team activities).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She received a warning for absenting herself from the conference.

  She received a warning for absenting herself from the conference.

  • "For *absenting* herself from the conference" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (received) + noun phrase (a warning for *absenting* herself from the conference).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

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

• plan
• refuse
• want
• decide
• hope

Example

He plans to absent himself from the meeting tomorrow.

They refuse to absent themselves from their responsibilities.

She wants to absent herself from the event.

We decided to absent ourselves from the party tonight.

They hope to absent themselves from any conflicts.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• mind
• consider
• recommend
• resist

Example

He avoids absenting himself from important discussions.

I don't mind absenting myself from social events.

They consider absenting themselves from unnecessary meetings.

She recommends absenting yourself from toxic environments.

We resist absenting ourselves from team activities.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

He likes to absent himself from stressful situations. He likes absenting himself from stressful situations.

She began to absent herself from unnecessary meetings. She began absenting herself from unnecessary meetings.

They continue to absent themselves from unproductive discussions. They continue absenting themselves from unproductive discussions.