When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To affiliate (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to affiliate" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I plan to affiliate with a professional organization to expand my network.
Affiliating (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "affiliating" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Affiliating with other professionals can lead to collaborative opportunities.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To affiliate (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To affiliate is a strategic move for companies looking to broaden their reach.
To affiliate is a strategic move for companies looking to broaden their reach.
- "*To affiliate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a strategic move for companies looking to broaden their reach).
- 2Object
She wants me to affiliate with her company.
She wants me to affiliate with her company.
- "Me *to affiliate* with her company" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to affiliate* with her company).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a reliable partner to affiliate with.
I need a reliable partner to affiliate with.
- "*To affiliate* with" modifies the noun "partner."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable partner *to affiliate* with).
Affiliating (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Affiliating with like-minded individuals is essential for personal growth.
Affiliating with like-minded individuals is essential for personal growth.
- "*Affiliating*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for personal growth).
- 2Object
I enjoy affiliating with industry experts.
I enjoy affiliating with industry experts.
- "*Affiliating* with industry experts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*affiliating* with industry experts).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a passion for affiliating with diverse communities.
She has a passion for affiliating with diverse communities.
- "For *affiliating*" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *affiliating* with diverse communities).
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
Example
We decided to affiliate our business with a larger corporation.
They hope to affiliate with a well-established brand.
He wants to affiliate his website with a popular blog.
They agreed to affiliate their organizations for mutual benefit.
She plans to affiliate her non-profit with a global charity.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys affiliating with like-minded professionals.
They recommend regularly affiliating with industry associations.
I am considering affiliating with a research institute.
He avoids affiliating with unethical organizations.
Can you imagine yourself affiliating with top experts in your field?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to affiliate with influential individuals. She likes affiliating with influential individuals.
We started to affiliate our business with a reputable organization. We started affiliating our business with a reputable organization.
He began to affiliate his company with international partners. He began affiliating his company with international partners.
