When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To afford (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to afford" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I can't afford to buy a new car right now.
Affording (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "affording" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Affording a new car is not easy for most people.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To afford (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To afford a luxurious vacation requires careful financial planning.
To afford a luxurious vacation requires careful financial planning.
- "*To afford* a luxurious vacation" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful financial planning).
- 2Object
She wants me to afford a fancy dinner for her birthday.
She wants me to afford a fancy dinner for her birthday.
- "Me *to afford* a fancy dinner for her birthday" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to afford* a fancy dinner for her birthday).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a higher-paying job to afford a bigger house.
He needs a higher-paying job to afford a bigger house.
- "*To afford* a bigger house" modifies the noun "job."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a higher-paying job *to afford* a bigger house).
Affording (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Affording a luxurious lifestyle requires a high income.
Affording a luxurious lifestyle requires a high income.
- "*Affording* a luxurious lifestyle" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a high income).
- 2Object
I enjoy affording myself small luxuries every now and then.
I enjoy affording myself small luxuries every now and then.
- "*Affording* myself small luxuries" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*affording* myself small luxuries).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a knack for affording expensive hobbies.
He has a knack for affording expensive hobbies.
- "For *affording* expensive hobbies" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *affording* expensive hobbies).
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
They plan to afford a trip to Europe next year.
I hope to afford a new phone soon.
We want to afford a luxurious vacation.
She decided to afford a designer handbag as a treat for herself.
They agreed to afford a night out at a fancy restaurant.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys affording herself nice vacations every year.
They recommend saving money for the future and affording a comfortable retirement.
I dislike the feeling of not affording the things I want.
He avoids overspending and focuses on affording the essentials.
Can you imagine affording a luxury yacht one day?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She would like to afford a beachfront property. She would like affording a beachfront property.
We started to afford regular vacations. We started affording regular vacations.
He began to afford a better quality of life. He began affording a better quality of life.
