When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To belie (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to belie" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I don't want to belie my true feelings.
Belying (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "belying" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Belying their confidence, they struggled to complete the task.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To belie (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To belie is to give a false impression.
To belie is to give a false impression.
- "*To belie*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (to give a false impression).
- 2Object
She expects me to belie her accusations.
She expects me to belie her accusations.
- "Me *to belie* her accusations" is the object of the verb "expects."
- Noun (She) + verb (expects) + noun phrase (me *to belie* her accusations).
- 3Adjective Modifier
It's hard to find evidence to belie his claims.
It's hard to find evidence to belie his claims.
- "*To belie* his claims" modifies the adjective "hard."
- Noun (It) + verb (is) + adjective (hard) + infinitive phrase (to find evidence *to belie* his claims).
Belying (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Belying his calm demeanor, he was feeling anxious.
Belying his calm demeanor, he was feeling anxious.
- "*Belying* his calm demeanor" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (was) + adjective phrase (feeling anxious).
- 2Object
I couldn't help belying my disappointment.
I couldn't help belying my disappointment.
- "*Belying* my disappointment" is the object of the verb "couldn't help."
- Noun (I) + verb (couldn't help) + gerund (*belying* my disappointment).
- 3Object of Preposition
She had no choice but to admit belying the truth.
She had no choice but to admit belying the truth.
- "To admit *belying* the truth" is the object of the preposition "but."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (had) + noun phrase (no choice but to admit *belying* the truth).
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
He plans to belie their expectations.
They hope to belie the rumors.
She wants to belie the stereotypes.
We decided to belie our previous statements.
They agreed to belie the critics.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys belying their expectations.
They recommend belying your doubts.
I dislike belying my own beliefs.
She avoids belying her true intentions.
Can you imagine belying their trust?
