To Anneal vs Annealing 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 anneal (Infinitive)

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

Example

The metal needs to anneal before it can be shaped.

Annealing (Gerund)

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

Example

Annealing is a heat treatment process used in metallurgy.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To anneal (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To anneal is a common process in metallurgy.

  To anneal is a common process in metallurgy.

  • "*To anneal*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common process in metallurgy).
• 2. Object

  They asked me to anneal the glassware.

  They asked me to anneal the glassware.

  • "Me *to anneal* the glassware" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to anneal* the glassware).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a kiln to anneal the ceramics.

  We need a kiln to anneal the ceramics.

  • "*To anneal* the ceramics" modifies the noun "kiln."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a kiln *to anneal* the ceramics).

Annealing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Annealing is necessary to reduce internal stress in metals.

  Annealing is necessary to reduce internal stress in metals.

  • "*Annealing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (necessary to reduce internal stress in metals).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy annealing metal in my workshop.

  I enjoy annealing metal in my workshop.

  • "*Annealing* metal in my workshop" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*annealing* metal in my workshop).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for annealing glass.

  She has a passion for annealing glass.

  • "For *annealing* glass" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *annealing* glass).

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
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to anneal the metal tomorrow.

They hope to anneal the glassware successfully.

He wants to anneal the steel for durability.

We decided to anneal the aluminum at a higher temperature.

They agreed to anneal the copper together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys annealing metal for artistic purposes.

They recommend annealing steel for better machinability.

I dislike the process of annealing copper.

He avoids annealing glass in high temperatures.

Can you imagine yourself annealing metal sculptures?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to anneal different types of metal. She likes annealing different types of metal.

We started to anneal our own glassware. We started annealing our own glassware.

He began to anneal metal jewelry. He began annealing metal jewelry.