To Befit vs Befitting 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 befit (Infinitive)

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

Example

It would befit you to dress appropriately for the occasion.

Befitting (Gerund)

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

Example

Wearing a formal suit is befitting for such an elegant event.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To befit (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To befit your status, you should attend the gala event.

  To befit your status, you should attend the gala event.

  • "*To befit* your status" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (should) + verb phrase (attend the gala event).
• 2. Object

  They consider it important for him to befit his new role.

  They consider it important for him to befit his new role.

  • "For him *to befit* his new role" is the object of the verb "consider."
  • Noun (They) + verb (consider) + noun phrase (it) + adjective (important) + prepositional phrase (for him *to befit* his new role).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a dress to befit the occasion.

  She needs a dress to befit the occasion.

  • "*To befit* the occasion" modifies the noun "dress."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a dress *to befit* the occasion).

Befitting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Befitting your status, you should attend the gala event.

  Befitting your status, you should attend the gala event.

  • "*Befitting* your status" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (should) + verb phrase (attend the gala event).
• 2. Object

  They appreciate his efforts befitting his role.

  They appreciate his efforts befitting his role.

  • "*Befitting* his role" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (They) + verb (appreciate) + pronoun (his) + noun (efforts) + gerund (*befitting* his role).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He received a reward for his actions befitting a hero.

  He received a reward for his actions befitting a hero.

  • "For his actions *befitting* a hero" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (received) + noun phrase (a reward) + prepositional phrase (for his actions *befitting* a hero).

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
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

He plans to befit the theme of the party with his costume.

We hope to befit the requirements of the job position.

She wants to befit the expectations of her parents.

They decided to befit the occasion with a grand celebration.

We agreed to befit the formal dress code for the event.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys activities befitting her adventurous nature.

They recommend a hairstyle befitting your face shape.

I dislike behavior befitting a spoiled child.

He avoids situations befitting his dignity.

Can you imagine a scenario befitting a horror movie?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to befit the occasion with her elegant attire. She likes attire befitting the occasion.

We started to befit the formal dress code for work. We started dressing befitting the formal dress code for work.

He began to befit his new role by studying the company's policies. He began studying the company's policies befitting his new role.