When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To close (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to close" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to close the window because it's cold outside.
Closing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "closing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Closing the door quietly is important when someone is sleeping.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To close (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To close is a necessary step before leaving the store.
To close is a necessary step before leaving the store.
- "*To close*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary step before leaving the store).
- 2Object
She wants me to close the door before going to bed.
She wants me to close the door before going to bed.
- "Me *to close* the door before going to bed" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to close* the door before going to bed).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a key to close the lock.
I need a key to close the lock.
- "*To close* the lock" modifies the noun "key."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a key *to close* the lock).
Closing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Closing the store requires attention to detail.
Closing the store requires attention to detail.
- "*Closing* the store" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (attention to detail).
- 2Object
I enjoy closing the curtains at night.
I enjoy closing the curtains at night.
- "*Closing* the curtains at night" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*closing* the curtains at night).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a fear of closing the door at night.
She has a fear of closing the door at night.
- "Of *closing* the door at night" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *closing* the door at night).
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
She plans to close the store early tomorrow.
They hope to close the deal by the end of the week.
He wants to close the door before leaving the house.
We decided to close the business for the holidays.
They agreed to close the meeting with a vote.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys closing the store at the end of the day.
They recommend double-checking before closing the document.
I dislike the process of closing a sale.
He avoids closing the conversation abruptly.
Can you imagine yourself closing a million-dollar deal?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to close the blinds at sunset. She likes closing the blinds at sunset.
We started to close the store earlier than usual. We started closing the store earlier than usual.
He began to close the gate every night. He began closing the gate every night.
