To Be Bothered vs Being bothered 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 be bothered (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to be bothered with unnecessary distractions.

Being bothered (Gerund)

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

Example

Being bothered by constant interruptions can be frustrating.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To be bothered (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To be bothered is not my concern.

  To be bothered is not my concern.

  • "*To be bothered*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not my concern).
• 2. Object

  He asked me to be bothered about the small details.

  He asked me to be bothered about the small details.

  • "Me *to be bothered* about the small details" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to be bothered* about the small details).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a quiet environment to be bothered by noise.

  She needs a quiet environment to be bothered by noise.

  • "*To be bothered* by noise" modifies the noun "environment."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a quiet environment *to be bothered* by noise).

Being bothered (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Being bothered is not worth the stress.

  Being bothered is not worth the stress.

  • "*Being bothered*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not worth the stress).
• 2. Object

  I dislike being bothered during my work.

  I dislike being bothered during my work.

  • "*Being bothered* during my work" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*being bothered* during my work).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of being bothered by strangers.

  She has a fear of being bothered by strangers.

  • "Of *being bothered* by strangers" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *being bothered* by strangers).

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
• refuse
• wish
• pretend
• demand

Example

We decided to be bothered by their comments.

They refused to be bothered by the negativity.

I wish not to be bothered by trivial matters.

He pretends not to be bothered by criticism.

She demanded to be bothered about every detail.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• mind
• consider
• postpone
• resist

Example

He avoids being bothered by unnecessary phone calls.

Do you mind being bothered while you are working?

They consider being bothered a distraction to their productivity.

I postponed being bothered with that issue until later.

She resists being bothered by negative opinions.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to be bothered by constant interruptions. I don't like being bothered by constant interruptions.

He started to be bothered by their complaints. He started being bothered by their complaints.

We began to be bothered by the noise outside. We began being bothered by the noise outside.