When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To bug (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to bug" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to bug my brother by hiding his favorite toy.
Bugging (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "bugging" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Bugging my little sister always leads to arguments.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To bug (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To bug someone is not a nice thing to do.
To bug someone is not a nice thing to do.
- "*To bug* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a nice thing to do).
- 2Object
She wants me to bug her boss for a promotion.
She wants me to bug her boss for a promotion.
- "Me *to bug* her boss for a promotion" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to bug* her boss for a promotion).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a quiet place to bug my thoughts.
I need a quiet place to bug my thoughts.
- "*To bug* my thoughts" modifies the noun "place."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a quiet place *to bug* my thoughts).
Bugging (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Bugging others is not a good way to make friends.
Bugging others is not a good way to make friends.
- "*Bugging* others" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a good way to make friends).
- 2Object
I enjoy bugging my friends with funny pranks.
I enjoy bugging my friends with funny pranks.
- "*Bugging* my friends with funny pranks" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bugging* my friends with funny pranks).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a habit of bugging his siblings.
He has a habit of bugging his siblings.
- "Of *bugging* his siblings" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *bugging* his siblings).
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
He decided to bug his sister for revenge.
They refused to bug their teacher with questions.
She pretended to bug her friend to get a reaction.
I learned to bug my parents for a later curfew.
We wish to bug our neighbors with loud music.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She avoids bugging her boss with unnecessary emails.
They are considering bugging the landlord about the maintenance issues.
I recommend not bugging your friends during their study time.
Do you mind me bugging you with questions?
He doesn't understand the purpose of bugging others.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to bug her siblings for fun. She likes bugging her siblings for fun.
We started to bug each other after watching a prank video. We started bugging each other after watching a prank video.
He began to bug his classmates during recess. He began bugging his classmates during recess.
