When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To care (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to care" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to care for others and make a difference in their lives.
Caring (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "caring" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Caring for others brings joy and fulfillment.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To care (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To care is an important value to teach children.
To care is an important value to teach children.
- "*To care*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important value to teach children).
- 2Object
She wants me to care for her plants while she's away.
She wants me to care for her plants while she's away.
- "Me *to care* for her plants while she's away" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to care* for her plants while she's away).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a caregiver to care for his elderly mother.
He needs a caregiver to care for his elderly mother.
- "*To care* for his elderly mother" modifies the noun "caregiver."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a caregiver *to care* for his elderly mother).
Caring (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Caring is a characteristic of compassionate individuals.
Caring is a characteristic of compassionate individuals.
- "*Caring*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a characteristic of compassionate individuals).
- 2Object
I enjoy caring for my plants and watching them grow.
I enjoy caring for my plants and watching them grow.
- "*Caring* for my plants and watching them grow" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*caring* for my plants and watching them grow).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a passion for caring for the elderly.
She has a passion for caring for the elderly.
- "For *caring* for the elderly" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *caring* for the elderly).
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
They plan to care for the environment by reducing waste.
I hope to care for animals at a rescue shelter someday.
She wants to care for her community by volunteering.
We decided to care for our health by eating nutritious food.
They agreed to care for each other during difficult times.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys caring for abandoned animals at the shelter.
They recommend regular caring for one's mental health.
She avoids caring too much about what others think.
Can you imagine yourself caring for a newborn baby?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
I like to care for my garden. I like caring for my garden.
They started to care for the homeless in their community. They started caring for the homeless in their community.
He began to care more about his physical well-being. He began caring more about his physical well-being.
