When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To combat (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to combat" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
We need to combat climate change for the sake of future generations.
Combating (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "combating" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Combating climate change requires global cooperation.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To combat (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To combat terrorism is a global priority.
To combat terrorism is a global priority.
- "*To combat* terrorism" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a global priority).
- 2Object
They want us to combat poverty in our community.
They want us to combat poverty in our community.
- "Us *to combat* poverty in our community" is the object of the verb "want."
- Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to combat* poverty in our community).
- 3Adjective Modifier
She needs a strong team to combat cyber threats.
She needs a strong team to combat cyber threats.
- "*To combat* cyber threats" modifies the noun "team."
- Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a strong team *to combat* cyber threats).
Combating (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Combating poverty is a continuous effort.
Combating poverty is a continuous effort.
- "*Combating* poverty" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a continuous effort).
- 2Object
She enjoys combating social injustices.
She enjoys combating social injustices.
- "*Combating* social injustices" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
- Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*combating* social injustices).
- 3Object of Preposition
They are dedicated to combating climate change.
They are dedicated to combating climate change.
- "To *combating* climate change" is the object of the preposition "to."
- Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + preposition (to) + gerund (*combating* climate change).
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
They plan to combat deforestation through sustainable practices.
I hope to combat inequality and injustice in society.
He wants to combat corruption in politics.
We decided to combat drug abuse in our community.
They agreed to combat discrimination and promote equality.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys combating wildlife trafficking.
Experts recommend combating air pollution for better health.
I dislike the idea of combating hunger in the world.
She avoids combating conflict through violence.
Can you imagine yourself combating injustice and advocating for human rights?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
We would like to combat discrimination in all its forms. We would like combating discrimination in all its forms.
They started to combat illegal logging in the region. They started combating illegal logging in the region.
He began to combat drug addiction in his community. He began combating drug addiction in his community.
