To Burglarize vs Burglarizing 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 burglarize (Infinitive)

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

Example

The thieves planned to burglarize the house under the cover of darkness.

Burglarizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Burglarizing someone's home is a serious offense.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To burglarize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To burglarize someone's home is a serious crime.

  To burglarize someone's home is a serious crime.

  • "*To burglarize* someone's home" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious crime).
• 2. Object

  She wants her brother to burglarize the jewelry store.

  She wants her brother to burglarize the jewelry store.

  • "Her brother *to burglarize* the jewelry store" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (her brother *to burglarize* the jewelry store).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a getaway car to burglarize the bank.

  He needs a getaway car to burglarize the bank.

  • "*To burglarize* the bank" modifies the noun "getaway car."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a getaway car *to burglarize* the bank).

Burglarizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Burglarizing houses is a common criminal activity.

  Burglarizing houses is a common criminal activity.

  • "*Burglarizing* houses" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common criminal activity).
• 2. Object

  I detest the thought of burglarizing someone's property.

  I detest the thought of burglarizing someone's property.

  • "The thought of *burglarizing* someone's property" is the object of the verb "detest."
  • Noun (I) + verb (detest) + gerund (the thought of *burglarizing* someone's property).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They were arrested for burglarizing multiple homes.

  They were arrested for burglarizing multiple homes.

  • "For *burglarizing* multiple homes" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (were arrested) + preposition (for) + gerund (*burglarizing* multiple homes).

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

• plan
• attempt
• refuse
• pretend
• choose

Example

They plan to burglarize the mansion next week.

The burglars attempted to burglarize the museum but were caught.

He refused to burglarize the store because of the security measures.

She pretended to burglarize the house as part of a movie scene.

They chose to burglarize the office building instead of the bank.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• deny
• imagine

Example

She avoids burglarizing houses by increasing home security.

Law enforcement agencies recommend reporting suspicious activities to prevent burglarizing.

He is considering burglarizing the store to steal valuable items.

The suspect denies burglarizing the apartment building.

Can you imagine someone burglarizing your home while you're away?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

He doesn't like to burglarize because it's morally wrong. He doesn't like burglarizing because it's morally wrong.

They began to burglarize small businesses before targeting larger ones. They began burglarizing small businesses before targeting larger ones.

She decided to continue to burglarize despite the risks involved. She decided to continue burglarizing despite the risks involved.