To Bloviate vs Bloviating 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 bloviate (Infinitive)

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

Example

He loves to bloviate about politics.

Bloviating (Gerund)

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

Example

Bloviating can be annoying to some people.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To bloviate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To bloviate is his favorite pastime.

  To bloviate is his favorite pastime.

  • "*To bloviate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + possessive pronoun (his) + adjective (favorite) + noun (pastime).
• 2. Object

  I want him to bloviate at the conference.

  I want him to bloviate at the conference.

  • "Him *to bloviate* at the conference" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (I) + verb (want) + pronoun (him) + infinitive phrase (to bloviate) + prepositional phrase (at the conference).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  She came to bloviate loudly.

  She came to bloviate loudly.

  • "*To bloviate* loudly" modifies the verb "came."
  • Noun (She) + verb (came) + infinitive phrase (to bloviate) + adverb (loudly).

Bloviating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bloviating is a common trait among politicians.

  Bloviating is a common trait among politicians.

  • "*Bloviating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + indefinite article (a) + adjective (common) + noun (trait) + prepositional phrase (among politicians).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy his bloviating on the radio.

  I enjoy his bloviating on the radio.

  • "His *bloviating* on the radio" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + possessive pronoun (his) + gerund (*bloviating*) + prepositional phrase (on the radio).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have no patience for bloviating.

  They have no patience for bloviating.

  • "For *bloviating*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + negative article (no) + noun (patience) + preposition (for) + gerund (*bloviating*).

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

• like
• enjoy
• start
• prefer
• begin

Example

They like to bloviate about their achievements.

We enjoy to bloviate on social media.

He started to bloviate as soon as he entered the room.

I prefer to bloviate in front of a large audience.

She began to bloviate about her research findings.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• mind
• recommend
• discuss

Example

He avoids bloviating in public to maintain his image.

We are considering bloviating on the topic at the conference.

Do you mind his bloviating during meetings?

Experts recommend against excessive bloviating in professional settings.

Let's discuss the issue of bloviating in the next meeting.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She likes to bloviate about her accomplishments. She likes bloviating about her accomplishments.

They began to bloviate as soon as the topic was mentioned. They began bloviating as soon as the topic was mentioned.

He continues to bloviate despite the criticism. He continues bloviating despite the criticism.