When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To borrow (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to borrow" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to borrow your book for the weekend.
Borrowing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "borrowing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Borrowing books from the library is free.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To borrow (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To borrow is a common practice among students.
To borrow is a common practice among students.
- "*To borrow*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice among students).
- 2Object
She wants me to borrow her car.
She wants me to borrow her car.
- "Me *to borrow* her car" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to borrow* her car).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a pen to borrow from you.
I need a pen to borrow from you.
- "*To borrow* from you" modifies the noun "pen."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a pen *to borrow* from you).
Borrowing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Borrowing money can lead to debt.
Borrowing money can lead to debt.
- "*Borrowing* money" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (can lead to) + noun phrase (debt).
- 2Object
I enjoy borrowing movies from my friends.
I enjoy borrowing movies from my friends.
- "*Borrowing* movies from my friends" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*borrowing* movies from my friends).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a habit of borrowing things and forgetting to return them.
She has a habit of borrowing things and forgetting to return them.
- "Of *borrowing* things and forgetting to return them" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *borrowing* things and forgetting to return them).
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
Example
She plans to borrow money from the bank.
They hope to borrow a ladder for their painting project.
He wants to borrow your laptop for his presentation.
We decided to borrow a tent for our camping trip.
They agreed to borrow a car for their road trip.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys borrowing clothes from her sister.
They recommend borrowing books from the library instead of buying them.
I dislike the idea of borrowing money from others.
He avoids borrowing things that he can buy.
Can you imagine yourself borrowing a car for a road trip?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to borrow novels from the bookstore. She likes borrowing novels from the bookstore.
We started to borrow money from our parents. We started borrowing money from our parents.
He began to borrow tools from his neighbor. He began borrowing tools from his neighbor.
