To Columnate vs Columnating 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 columnate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to columnate the data for easier analysis.

Columnating (Gerund)

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

Example

Columnating the data can save time and effort.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To columnate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To columnate is an important step in organizing the information.

  To columnate is an important step in organizing the information.

  • "*To columnate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in organizing the information).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to columnate the spreadsheet.

  She wants me to columnate the spreadsheet.

  • "Me *to columnate* the spreadsheet" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to columnate* the spreadsheet).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a software to columnate the data effectively.

  We need a software to columnate the data effectively.

  • "*To columnate* the data effectively" modifies the noun "software."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a software *to columnate* the data effectively).

Columnating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Columnating the information is a necessary task.

  Columnating the information is a necessary task.

  • "*Columnating* the information" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary task).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy columnating the spreadsheet.

  I enjoy columnating the spreadsheet.

  • "*Columnating* the spreadsheet" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*columnating* the spreadsheet).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for columnating data.

  She has a talent for columnating data.

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

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

• decide
• want
• plan
• attempt
• manage

Example

We decided to columnate the report in a different format.

He wants to columnate the table to make it more readable.

They plan to columnate the information before presenting it.

She attempted to columnate the data using a new tool.

We managed to columnate the spreadsheet without any errors.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine
• practice

Example

They recommend columnating the information before analyzing it.

I avoid columnating large datasets manually.

He is considering columnating the spreadsheet for better clarity.

Can you imagine yourself columnating complex data sets?

She practices columnating data to improve her efficiency.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to columnate the data in a systematic manner. She likes columnating the data in a systematic manner.

We started to columnate the information for better organization. We started columnating the information for better organization.

He began to columnate the spreadsheet using specific criteria. He began columnating the spreadsheet using specific criteria.