To Blanket vs Blanketing 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 blanket (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to blanket the entire room with warmth.

Blanketing (Gerund)

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

Example

Blanketing the room with warmth is essential for comfort.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To blanket (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To blanket the room is my priority.

  To blanket the room is my priority.

  • "*To blanket* the room" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (my priority).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to blanket her with love.

  She wants me to blanket her with love.

  • "Me *to blanket* her with love" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to blanket* her with love).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a cozy blanket to blanket myself in.

  I need a cozy blanket to blanket myself in.

  • "*To blanket* myself in" modifies the noun "blanket."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a cozy blanket *to blanket* myself in).

Blanketing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Blanketing the room is a necessary task.

  Blanketing the room is a necessary task.

  • "*Blanketing* the room" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary task).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy blanketing myself with a cozy blanket.

  I enjoy blanketing myself with a cozy blanket.

  • "*Blanketing* myself with a cozy blanket" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*blanketing* myself with a cozy blanket).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for blanketing her loved ones with care.

  She has a passion for blanketing her loved ones with care.

  • "For *blanketing* her loved ones with care" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *blanketing* her loved ones with care).

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 blanket the entire house before winter arrives.

They hope to blanket the garden with flowers in the spring.

He wants to blanket the room with soft lighting.

We decided to blanket the walls with soundproof material.

They agreed to blanket the floor with a thick carpet.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

She enjoys blanketing the bed with fresh sheets every morning.

They recommend blanketing plants during frosty nights.

I avoid blanketing myself with negativity.

Can you imagine blanketing the room with beautiful decorations?

We are considering blanketing the city with advertising campaigns.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to blanket herself with a warm quilt. She likes blanketing herself with a warm quilt.

We started to blanket the room with soft lighting. We started blanketing the room with soft lighting.

He began to blanket the house with a sense of security. He began blanketing the house with a sense of security.