To Catapult vs Catapulting 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 catapult (Infinitive)

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

Example

To catapult an object requires a lot of force.

Catapulting (Gerund)

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

Example

Catapulting objects can be dangerous if not done properly.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To catapult (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To catapult is a challenging skill to master.

  To catapult is a challenging skill to master.

  • "*To catapult*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging skill to master).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to catapult the ball.

  He wants me to catapult the ball.

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

  We need a strong elastic band to catapult the object.

  We need a strong elastic band to catapult the object.

  • "*To catapult* the object" modifies the noun "elastic band."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strong elastic band *to catapult* the object).

Catapulting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Catapulting requires precision and accuracy.

  Catapulting requires precision and accuracy.

  • "*Catapulting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (precision and accuracy).
• 2. Object

  We enjoy catapulting water balloons at each other.

  We enjoy catapulting water balloons at each other.

  • "*Catapulting* water balloons at each other" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*catapulting* water balloons at each other).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for catapulting objects long distances.

  She has a talent for catapulting objects long distances.

  • "For *catapulting* objects long distances" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *catapulting* objects long distances).

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 catapult the water balloons during the party.

I hope to catapult my career to new heights.

She wants to catapult the rocket into space.

He decided to catapult himself over the wall.

They agreed to catapult the boulder across the river.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy catapulting themselves into the pool.

Experts recommend catapulting small objects for physics experiments.

I dislike the idea of catapulting animals for entertainment.

He avoids catapulting fragile items due to the risk of damage.

Can you imagine yourself catapulting through the air?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to catapult objects high into the sky. She likes catapulting objects high into the sky.

We started to catapult projectiles during our science experiment. We started catapulting projectiles during our science experiment.

He began to catapult rocks across the field. He began catapulting rocks across the field.