To Blanche vs Blanching 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 blanche (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to blanche the vegetables before cooking them.

Blanching (Gerund)

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

Example

Blanching helps to preserve the color and texture of the vegetables.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To blanche (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To blanche is an important step in food preparation.

  To blanche is an important step in food preparation.

  • "*To blanche*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in food preparation).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to blanche the almonds.

  She wants me to blanche the almonds.

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

  I need a pot to blanche the vegetables.

  I need a pot to blanche the vegetables.

  • "*To blanche* the vegetables" modifies the noun "pot."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a pot *to blanche* the vegetables).

Blanching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Blanching is a common technique in cooking.

  Blanching is a common technique in cooking.

  • "*Blanching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common technique in cooking).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy blanching the vegetables before stir-frying them.

  I enjoy blanching the vegetables before stir-frying them.

  • "*Blanching* the vegetables before stir-frying them" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*blanching* the vegetables before stir-frying them).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for blanching food.

  She has a passion for blanching food.

  • "For *blanching* food" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *blanching* food).

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 blanche the broccoli for dinner.

They hope to blanche the carrots for the salad.

He wants to blanche the beans before freezing them.

We decided to blanche the peas before canning them.

They agreed to blanche the asparagus before grilling it.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys blanching the vegetables for her recipes.

They recommend blanching the tomatoes before peeling them.

I dislike the process of blanching the cabbage leaves.

He avoids blanching the mushrooms because he likes them raw.

Can you imagine yourself blanching the spinach?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to blanche the asparagus. She likes blanching the asparagus.

We started to blanche our vegetables for better preservation. We started blanching our vegetables for better preservation.

He began to blanche the potatoes for his recipes. He began blanching the potatoes for his recipes.