To Betrail vs Betrailing 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 betrail (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to betrail my friends by revealing their secrets.

Betrailing (Gerund)

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

Example

Betrailing others will only lead to negative consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To betrail (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To betrail someone is a betrayal of trust.

  To betrail someone is a betrayal of trust.

  • "*To betrail*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a betrayal of trust).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to betrail my colleagues.

  She wants me to betrail my colleagues.

  • "Me *to betrail* my colleagues" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to betrail* my colleagues).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I have no desire to betrail anyone.

  I have no desire to betrail anyone.

  • "*To betrail* anyone" modifies the noun "desire."
  • Noun (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (no desire *to betrail* anyone).

Betrailing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Betrailing is a dishonest act.

  Betrailing is a dishonest act.

  • "*Betrailing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a dishonest act).
• 2. Object

  I regret betrailing my best friend.

  I regret betrailing my best friend.

  • "*Betrailing* my best friend" is the object of the verb "regret."
  • Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*betrailing* my best friend).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She feels guilty about betrailing her team.

  She feels guilty about betrailing her team.

  • "About *betrailing* her team" is the object of the preposition "about."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (feels) + noun phrase (guilty about *betrailing* her team).

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
• attempt
• refuse
• pretend
• choose

Example

He decided to betrail his partner for personal gain.

They attempted to betrail their competitors in order to win.

She refuses to betrail her principles for money.

He pretended to betrail his allies to gain the enemy's trust.

We choose not to betrail our teammates during the game.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• deny
• imagine
• consider
• understand

Example

He avoids betrailing others by keeping their secrets.

They deny betrailing their partners in the business deal.

I can't imagine betrailing my closest friends.

She is considering betrailing her colleagues for personal gain.

We understand the consequences of betrailing our allies.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to betrail their enemies. They like betrailing their enemies.

He started to betrail his teammates. He started betrailing his teammates.

We began to betrail our rivals. We began betrailing our rivals.