To Banish vs Banishing 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 banish (Infinitive)

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

Example

The king decided to banish the traitor from the kingdom.

Banishing (Gerund)

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

Example

Banishing negative thoughts can lead to a happier life.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To banish (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To banish someone is a harsh punishment.

  To banish someone is a harsh punishment.

  • "*To banish* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a harsh punishment).
• 2. Object

  They want the judge to banish the criminal.

  They want the judge to banish the criminal.

  • "The judge *to banish* the criminal" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (the judge *to banish* the criminal).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a spell to banish evil spirits.

  She needs a spell to banish evil spirits.

  • "*To banish* evil spirits" modifies the noun "spell."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a spell *to banish* evil spirits).

Banishing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Banishing bad habits requires discipline.

  Banishing bad habits requires discipline.

  • "*Banishing* bad habits" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (discipline).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy banishing clutter from my home.

  I enjoy banishing clutter from my home.

  • "*Banishing* clutter from my home" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*banishing* clutter from my home).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for banishing negative energy.

  He has a talent for banishing negative energy.

  • "For *banishing* negative energy" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *banishing* negative energy).

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
• promise
• refuse
• attempt
• struggle

Example

He decided to banish the troublemakers from the school.

They promised to banish corruption from the government.

She refused to banish her loyal subjects.

We attempted to banish negativity from our lives.

He struggled to banish his fears and doubts.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• resist

Example

She avoids banishing her friends from her life.

They are considering banishing unhealthy foods from their diet.

Experts recommend banishing negative self-talk for mental well-being.

Do you mind banishing your pets from the bedroom?

He resisted banishing his favorite indulgences.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She likes to banish negative thoughts from her mind. She likes banishing negative thoughts from her mind.

They began to banish toxic people from their lives. They began banishing toxic people from their lives.

He continues to banish negativity from his surroundings. He continues banishing negativity from his surroundings.