When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To amuse (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to amuse" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to amuse the audience with my jokes.
Amusing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "amusing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Amusing the audience is his specialty.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To amuse (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To amuse is his main goal as a comedian.
To amuse is his main goal as a comedian.
- "*To amuse*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his main goal as a comedian).
- 2Object
She asked me to amuse the guests at the party.
She asked me to amuse the guests at the party.
- "Me *to amuse* the guests at the party" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to amuse* the guests at the party).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a funny story to amuse the children.
I need a funny story to amuse the children.
- "*To amuse* the children" modifies the noun "story."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a funny story *to amuse* the children).
Amusing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Amusing the crowd is a challenging task.
Amusing the crowd is a challenging task.
- "*Amusing* the crowd" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging task).
- 2Object
I enjoy amusing people with my jokes.
I enjoy amusing people with my jokes.
- "*Amusing* people with my jokes" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*amusing* people with my jokes).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a talent for amusing others.
He has a talent for amusing others.
- "For *amusing* others" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *amusing* others).
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
He plans to amuse the audience with magic tricks.
They hope to amuse everyone with their performance.
She wants to amuse the crowd with her singing.
We decided to amuse the guests with a comedy show.
They agreed to amuse the audience together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys amusing her friends with funny stories.
They recommend amusing activities for family gatherings.
I dislike the idea of amusing a large crowd.
He avoids amusing people with offensive jokes.
Can you imagine yourself amusing a stadium full of spectators?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to amuse herself by watching comedies. She likes amusing herself by watching comedies.
We started to amuse the children with balloon animals. We started amusing the children with balloon animals.
He began to amuse the audience with his magic tricks. He began amusing the audience with his magic tricks.
