To Assail vs Assailing 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 assail (Infinitive)

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

Example

He refused to assail his opponent with personal attacks.

Assailing (Gerund)

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

Example

Assailing his opponent's character was not a productive strategy.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To assail (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To assail is a strategy used in warfare.

  To assail is a strategy used in warfare.

  • "*To assail*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a strategy used in warfare).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to assail the enemy's defenses.

  She wants me to assail the enemy's defenses.

  • "Me *to assail* the enemy's defenses" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to assail* the enemy's defenses).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a plan to assail their arguments.

  I need a plan to assail their arguments.

  • "*To assail* their arguments" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to assail* their arguments).

Assailing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Assailing others is not a kind behavior.

  Assailing others is not a kind behavior.

  • "*Assailing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a kind behavior).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy assailing my enemies with scathing remarks.

  I enjoy assailing my enemies with scathing remarks.

  • "*Assailing* my enemies with scathing remarks" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*assailing* my enemies with scathing remarks).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He faced consequences for assailing his colleagues.

  He faced consequences for assailing his colleagues.

  • "For *assailing* his colleagues" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (faced) + noun phrase (consequences for *assailing* his colleagues).

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

• decide
• demand
• attempt
• refuse
• pretend

Example

They decided to assail their opponents with a strong offensive strategy.

The protesters demand to assail the corrupt government officials.

He attempted to assail the castle walls during the siege.

We refuse to assail innocent people for personal gain.

She pretends to assail her critics with witty comebacks.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• mind
• consider
• delay
• deny

Example

They avoid assailing each other in public debates.

I don't mind assailing unfair policies with strong arguments.

She is considering assailing the company's management for unethical practices.

He delayed assailing his opponent until the right moment.

They deny assailing anyone's character without concrete evidence.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• try

Example

They like to assail their rivals with aggressive marketing strategies. They like assailing their rivals with aggressive marketing strategies.

We began to assail the competition with innovative products. We began assailing the competition with innovative products.

He tried to assail his opponent's reputation during the debate. He tried assailing his opponent's reputation during the debate.