To Bloat vs Bloating 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 bloat (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to bloat after eating a heavy meal.

Bloating (Gerund)

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

Example

Bloating can be a symptom of digestive issues.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To bloat (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To bloat is uncomfortable and can cause pain.

  To bloat is uncomfortable and can cause pain.

  • "*To bloat*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (uncomfortable and can cause pain).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to bloat the balloon.

  She asked him to bloat the balloon.

  • "Him *to bloat* the balloon" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to bloat* the balloon).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  He tried to bloat the numbers artificially.

  He tried to bloat the numbers artificially.

  • "*To bloat* the numbers artificially" modifies the verb "tried."
  • Noun (He) + verb (tried) + infinitive phrase (to bloat the numbers artificially).

Bloating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bloating is common after eating certain foods.

  Bloating is common after eating certain foods.

  • "*Bloating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (common after eating certain foods).
• 2. Object

  She dislikes bloating after a big meal.

  She dislikes bloating after a big meal.

  • "*Bloating* after a big meal" is the object of the verb "dislikes."
  • Noun (She) + verb (dislikes) + gerund (*bloating* after a big meal).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a remedy for bloating.

  He has a remedy for bloating.

  • "For *bloating*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a remedy for *bloating*).

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

• refuse
• attempt
• choose
• determine
• pretend

Example

They refused to bloat the company's financial records.

She attempted to bloat her resume to impress the employer.

We chose to bloat the cake with extra frosting.

He determined to bloat the budget for the project.

They pretended to bloat their achievements on social media.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• mind
• recommend
• consider
• resist

Example

They avoid foods that cause bloating.

She doesn't mind bloating temporarily after eating spicy food.

Doctors recommend avoiding certain foods to prevent bloating.

They are considering dietary changes to reduce bloating.

He tries to resist the urge of overeating to avoid bloating.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to bloat after a heavy meal. I don't like bloating after a heavy meal.

She started to bloat soon after eating. She started bloating soon after eating.

He began to bloat frequently after changing his diet. He began bloating frequently after changing his diet.