To Chunk vs Chunking 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 chunk (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to chunk the data to make it more manageable.

Chunking (Gerund)

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

Example

Chunking is a technique used in data processing.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To chunk (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To chunk is an effective way to process large amounts of information.

  To chunk is an effective way to process large amounts of information.

  • "*To chunk*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an effective way to process large amounts of information).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to chunk the text into smaller sections.

  She wants me to chunk the text into smaller sections.

  • "Me *to chunk* the text into smaller sections" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to chunk* the text into smaller sections).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a software to chunk the files automatically.

  I need a software to chunk the files automatically.

  • "*To chunk* the files automatically" modifies the noun "software."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a software *to chunk* the files automatically).

Chunking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Chunking helps in organizing and managing large amounts of data.

  Chunking helps in organizing and managing large amounts of data.

  • "*Chunking*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (in organizing and managing large amounts of data).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy chunking the data for analysis.

  I enjoy chunking the data for analysis.

  • "*Chunking* the data for analysis" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*chunking* the data for analysis).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for chunking complex information.

  She has a knack for chunking complex information.

  • "For *chunking* complex information" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *chunking* complex information).

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 chunk the data tomorrow.

They hope to chunk the data for better analysis.

He wants to chunk the information into smaller parts.

We decided to chunk the file into manageable segments.

They agreed to chunk the data together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys chunking the text into smaller portions.

They recommend using chunking as a strategy for data management.

I dislike the idea of chunking the information manually.

He avoids chunking the data into unrelated categories.

Can you imagine yourself chunking large datasets?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to chunk the data into meaningful segments. She likes chunking the data into meaningful segments.

We started to chunk the information for easier analysis. We started chunking the information for easier analysis.

He began to chunk the text into smaller paragraphs. He began chunking the text into smaller paragraphs.