To Cheerlead vs Cheerleading 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 cheerlead (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to cheerlead for the team at the next game.

Cheerleading (Gerund)

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

Example

Cheerleading is a physically demanding sport.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To cheerlead (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To cheerlead requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

  To cheerlead requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

  • "*To cheerlead*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of energy and enthusiasm).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to cheerlead during the halftime show.

  She wants me to cheerlead during the halftime show.

  • "Me *to cheerlead* during the halftime show" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to cheerlead* during the halftime show).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need pom-poms to cheerlead effectively.

  I need pom-poms to cheerlead effectively.

  • "*To cheerlead* effectively" modifies the noun "pom-poms."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (pom-poms *to cheerlead* effectively).

Cheerleading (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Cheerleading requires strength, flexibility, and coordination.

  Cheerleading requires strength, flexibility, and coordination.

  • "*Cheerleading*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (strength, flexibility, and coordination).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy cheerleading for the team.

  I enjoy cheerleading for the team.

  • "*Cheerleading* for the team" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*cheerleading* for the team).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for cheerleading.

  She has a passion for cheerleading.

  • "For *cheerleading*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *cheerleading*).

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

She plans to cheerlead for the homecoming game.

They hope to cheerlead their team to victory.

He wants to cheerlead in the cheerleading competition.

We decided to cheerlead at the pep rally.

They agreed to cheerlead together at the game.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys cheerleading at every game.

They recommend regular cheerleading for building strength and teamwork.

I dislike the idea of cheerleading in the rain.

He avoids cheerleading in dangerous stunts.

Can you imagine yourself cheerleading in front of a crowd?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to cheerlead during basketball games. She likes cheerleading during basketball games.

We started to cheerlead in high school. We started cheerleading in high school.

He began to cheerlead for the football team. He began cheerleading for the football team.