To Bestride vs Bestriding 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 bestride (Infinitive)

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

Example

He wants to bestride the horse and ride into the sunset.

Bestriding (Gerund)

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

Example

Bestriding the horse, he felt a sense of freedom and power.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To bestride (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To bestride a horse requires skill and balance.

  To bestride a horse requires skill and balance.

  • "*To bestride* a horse" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (skill and balance).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to bestride the giant statue.

  She asked him to bestride the giant statue.

  • "Him *to bestride* the giant statue" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to bestride* the giant statue).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a tall horse to bestride comfortably.

  He needs a tall horse to bestride comfortably.

  • "*To bestride* comfortably" modifies the noun "horse."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a tall horse *to bestride* comfortably).

Bestriding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bestriding a horse requires good horsemanship skills.

  Bestriding a horse requires good horsemanship skills.

  • "*Bestriding* a horse" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (good horsemanship skills).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy bestriding the majestic horse in the meadow.

  I enjoy bestriding the majestic horse in the meadow.

  • "*Bestriding* the majestic horse in the meadow" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bestriding* the majestic horse in the meadow).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for bestriding horses in equestrian competitions.

  She has a passion for bestriding horses in equestrian competitions.

  • "For *bestriding* horses in equestrian competitions" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *bestriding* horses in equestrian competitions).

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

She plans to bestride the horse during the parade.

They hope to bestride a champion racehorse one day.

He wants to bestride a wild stallion and tame it.

We decided to bestride the horses and explore the countryside.

They agreed to bestride the horses and ride together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys bestriding her favorite horse every morning.

They recommend regular bestriding for improving riding skills.

I dislike the feeling of bestriding an unruly horse.

He avoids bestriding horses that are too small for him.

Can you imagine yourself bestriding a galloping horse?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to bestride powerful horses. She likes bestriding powerful horses.

We started to bestride horses at a young age. We started bestriding horses at a young age.

He began to bestride horses after taking riding lessons. He began bestriding horses after taking riding lessons.