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 rode into the sunset.

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 wants me to bestride the bicycle and show her how to ride.

  She wants me to bestride the bicycle and show her how to ride.

  • "Me *to bestride* the bicycle and show her how to ride" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to bestride* the bicycle and show her how to ride).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a sturdy saddle to bestride comfortably.

  He needs a sturdy saddle to bestride comfortably.

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

Bestriding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bestriding a horse gives a sense of power and freedom.

  Bestriding a horse gives a sense of power and freedom.

  • "*Bestriding* a horse" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (gives) + noun phrase (a sense of power and freedom).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy bestriding the bicycle and feeling the wind in my hair.

  I enjoy bestriding the bicycle and feeling the wind in my hair.

  • "*Bestriding* the bicycle and feeling the wind in my hair" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bestriding* the bicycle and feeling the wind in my hair).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a passion for bestriding powerful horses.

  He has a passion for bestriding powerful horses.

  • "For *bestriding* powerful horses" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *bestriding* powerful horses).

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

They plan to bestride the elephants during their safari.

I hope to bestride a majestic stallion one day.

We want to bestride the tallest mountain in the world.

She decided to bestride the motorcycle and feel the wind in her hair.

They agreed to bestride the camels and explore the desert.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys bestriding the motorcycle on long rides.

They recommend regular bestriding for improving riding skills.

I dislike the idea of bestriding wild stallions.

He avoids bestriding unpredictable horses.

Can you imagine yourself bestriding a galloping horse?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to bestride the horse and feel its power beneath her. She likes bestriding the horse and feeling its power beneath her.

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

He began to bestride the bicycle with confidence. He began bestriding the bicycle with confidence.