To Boast vs Boasting 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 boast (Infinitive)

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

Example

He wants to boast about his accomplishments.

Boasting (Gerund)

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

Example

Boasting can be seen as arrogant behavior.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To boast (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To boast is not a humble trait.

  To boast is not a humble trait.

  • "*To boast*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not a humble trait).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to boast about his achievements.

  She asked him to boast about his achievements.

  • "Him *to boast* about his achievements" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to boast* about his achievements).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  He worked hard to boast confidently.

  He worked hard to boast confidently.

  • "*To boast* confidently" modifies the verb "worked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (worked) + adverb phrase (*to boast* confidently).

Boasting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Boasting often annoys people around us.

  Boasting often annoys people around us.

  • "*Boasting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (often annoys) + noun phrase (people around us).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy boasting about my accomplishments.

  I enjoy boasting about my accomplishments.

  • "*Boasting* about my accomplishments" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*boasting* about my accomplishments).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for boasting about herself.

  She has a talent for boasting about herself.

  • "For *boasting* about herself" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *boasting* about herself).

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
• pretend
• choose
• demand

Example

We decided to boast about our team's success.

They attempted to boast about their wealth and status.

He pretended to boast about his popularity.

She chose to boast about her academic achievements.

The audience demanded to boast about their accomplishments.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• delay
• resist

Example

He avoids boasting about his achievements in front of others.

They recommend avoiding excessive boasting in professional settings.

I am considering boasting about my new job promotion.

We delayed boasting about our victory until the official announcement.

She couldn't resist boasting about her recent success.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

He likes to boast about his accomplishments. He likes boasting about his accomplishments.

We began to boast about our achievements. We began boasting about our achievements.

She continues to boast about her wealth. She continues boasting about her wealth.