To Bolt vs Bolting 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 bolt (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to bolt the door to keep it secure.

Bolting (Gerund)

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

Example

Bolting the door is a quick way to ensure safety.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To bolt (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To bolt the door is a necessary safety precaution.

  To bolt the door is a necessary safety precaution.

  • "*To bolt* the door" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary safety precaution).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to bolt the window shutters.

  She wants me to bolt the window shutters.

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

  I need a strong lock to bolt the gate.

  I need a strong lock to bolt the gate.

  • "*To bolt* the gate" modifies the noun "lock."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strong lock *to bolt* the gate).

Bolting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bolting the door requires a strong lock.

  Bolting the door requires a strong lock.

  • "*Bolting* the door" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a strong lock).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy bolting the gates every night.

  I enjoy bolting the gates every night.

  • "*Bolting* the gates" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bolting* the gates).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of bolting the doors during thunderstorms.

  She has a fear of bolting the doors during thunderstorms.

  • "Of *bolting* the doors" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *bolting* the doors).

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
• hope
• refuse
• attempt
• want

Example

We decided to bolt all the windows before the storm.

They hope to bolt the door securely to prevent break-ins.

He refused to bolt the gate because he didn't have the right tools.

She attempted to bolt the window, but it was stuck.

We want to bolt the fence for added privacy.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• imagine
• mind
• consider

Example

He avoids bolting the windows too tightly to prevent damage.

They recommend bolting the furniture to the wall for child safety.

Can you imagine bolting all the doors and windows in under a minute?

I don't mind bolting the gate every evening.

We are considering bolting the cabinets to keep them secure.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to bolt the windows before going to bed. She likes bolting the windows before going to bed.

We started to bolt all the entrances for added security. We started bolting all the entrances for added security.

He began to bolt the doors after a recent break-in. He began bolting the doors after a recent break-in.