To Carburate vs Carburating 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 carburate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to carburate the engine before starting the car.

Carburating (Gerund)

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

Example

Carburating requires a good understanding of the engine's fuel system.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To carburate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To carburate is an important step in the process of starting a car.

  To carburate is an important step in the process of starting a car.

  • "*To carburate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in the process of starting a car).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to carburate his motorcycle.

  He wants me to carburate his motorcycle.

  • "Me *to carburate* his motorcycle" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to carburate* his motorcycle).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a special tool to carburate the engine.

  We need a special tool to carburate the engine.

  • "*To carburate* the engine" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a special tool *to carburate* the engine).

Carburating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Carburating is a skill that every mechanic should possess.

  Carburating is a skill that every mechanic should possess.

  • "*Carburating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a skill that every mechanic should possess).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy carburating vintage cars.

  I enjoy carburating vintage cars.

  • "*Carburating* vintage cars" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*carburating* vintage cars).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a passion for carburating classic motorcycles.

  He has a passion for carburating classic motorcycles.

  • "For *carburating* classic motorcycles" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *carburating* classic motorcycles).

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
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

They plan to carburate the vintage car tomorrow.

I hope to carburate the engine successfully.

She wants me to carburate her scooter.

He decided to carburate the old motorcycle himself.

We agreed to carburate the carburetor together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy carburating engines as a hobby.

Mechanics recommend regular carburating for optimal engine performance.

I dislike the task of carburating old vehicles.

He avoids carburating vehicles with complicated fuel systems.

Can you imagine yourself carburating a vintage motorcycle?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to carburate small engines. She likes carburating small engines.

We started to carburate the generator. We started carburating the generator.

He began to carburate his motorcycle's engine. He began carburating his motorcycle's engine.