When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To announce (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to announce" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
The company plans to announce its new product next week.
Announcing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "announcing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Announcing the results was an exciting moment.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To announce (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To announce the winner, the host took the stage.
To announce the winner, the host took the stage.
- "*To announce* the winner" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (took) + noun phrase (the stage).
- 2Object
She asked him to announce the news.
She asked him to announce the news.
- "Him *to announce* the news" is the object of the verb "asked".
- Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to announce* the news).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a microphone to announce the event details.
We need a microphone to announce the event details.
- "*To announce* the event details" modifies the noun "microphone".
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a microphone *to announce* the event details).
Announcing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Announcing the winners was a great responsibility.
Announcing the winners was a great responsibility.
- "*Announcing* the winners" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (was) + noun phrase (a great responsibility).
- 2Object
I enjoy announcing the upcoming events.
I enjoy announcing the upcoming events.
- "*Announcing* the upcoming events" is the object of the verb "enjoy".
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*announcing* the upcoming events).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for announcing important news.
She has a talent for announcing important news.
- "For *announcing* important news" is the object of the preposition "for".
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *announcing* important news).
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
The team plans to announce their new strategy tomorrow.
They hope to announce the concert dates soon.
He wants to announce his resignation at the meeting.
We decided to announce the winner on live television.
They agreed to announce the partnership publicly.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys announcing the winners of the competition.
They recommend announcing the event on social media.
I dislike announcing bad news to the team.
He avoids announcing the details before the official announcement.
Can you imagine yourself announcing in front of a large audience?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to announce the winners personally. She likes announcing the winners personally.
We started to announce our new project. We started announcing our new project.
He began to announce the game rules. He began announcing the game rules.
