When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To babysit (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to babysit" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to babysit my neighbor's kids tonight.
Babysitting (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "babysitting" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Babysitting can be a rewarding experience.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To babysit (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To babysit is a responsible job.
To babysit is a responsible job.
- "*To babysit*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a responsible job).
- 2Object
She asked me to babysit her children.
She asked me to babysit her children.
- "Me *to babysit* her children" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to babysit* her children).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a reliable person to babysit my kids.
I need a reliable person to babysit my kids.
- "*To babysit* my kids" modifies the noun "person."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable person *to babysit* my kids).
Babysitting (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Babysitting requires patience and responsibility.
Babysitting requires patience and responsibility.
- "*Babysitting*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and responsibility).
- 2Object
I enjoy babysitting my younger siblings.
I enjoy babysitting my younger siblings.
- "*Babysitting* my younger siblings" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*babysitting* my younger siblings).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for babysitting multiple children at once.
She has a talent for babysitting multiple children at once.
- "For *babysitting* multiple children at once" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *babysitting* multiple children at once).
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 babysit their niece next weekend.
He wants to babysit for extra money.
We hope to babysit the newborn baby soon.
She decided to babysit her friend's toddler.
They agreed to babysit together for their neighbors.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They enjoy babysitting their neighbor's kids.
I recommend getting CPR certified before babysitting.
He avoids babysitting during his busy schedule.
Can you imagine yourself babysitting a group of energetic toddlers?
Do you mind babysitting for a few hours tomorrow evening?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to babysit her cousin's children. She likes babysitting her cousin's children.
We started to babysit for our neighbors. We started babysitting for our neighbors.
He began to babysit when he was 14 years old. He began babysitting when he was 14 years old.
