To Backstab vs Backstabbing 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 backstab (Infinitive)

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

Example

I can't believe she would backstab her best friend.

Backstabbing (Gerund)

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

Example

Backstabbing is a cowardly act.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To backstab (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To backstab someone is a betrayal of trust.

  To backstab someone is a betrayal of trust.

  • "*To backstab* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a betrayal of trust).
• 2. Object

  He asked me to backstab his rival.

  He asked me to backstab his rival.

  • "Me *to backstab* his rival" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to backstab* his rival).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a reason to backstab her colleague.

  She needs a reason to backstab her colleague.

  • "*To backstab* her colleague" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to backstab* her colleague).

Backstabbing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Backstabbing destroys relationships.

  Backstabbing destroys relationships.

  • "*Backstabbing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (destroys) + noun phrase (relationships).
• 2. Object

  I dislike backstabbing in the workplace.

  I dislike backstabbing in the workplace.

  • "*Backstabbing* in the workplace" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*backstabbing* in the workplace).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for backstabbing.

  She has a talent for backstabbing.

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

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
• want
• decide
• attempt
• pretend

Example

They planned to backstab their boss for revenge.

He wants to backstab his competitor to get ahead.

She decided to backstab her partner for personal gain.

We attempted to backstab our opponents in the game.

They pretended to backstab each other as part of their strategy.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys backstabbing his rivals in politics.

They recommend avoiding backstabbing for a healthy work environment.

I am considering backstabbing as a last resort.

She avoids backstabbing her friends for personal gain.

Can you imagine backstabbing your own family?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to backstab people. I don't like backstabbing people.

They started to backstab each other in the competition. They started backstabbing each other in the competition.

He began to backstab his allies for power. He began backstabbing his allies for power.