When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To confide (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to confide" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I promise to confide in you with my deepest secrets.
Confiding (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "confiding" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Confiding in a trusted friend can be therapeutic.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To confide (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To confide in someone requires trust.
To confide in someone requires trust.
- "*To confide* in someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (trust).
- 2Object
She wants me to confide in her about my problems.
She wants me to confide in her about my problems.
- "Me *to confide* in her about my problems" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to confide* in her about my problems).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a trustworthy friend to confide in.
He needs a trustworthy friend to confide in.
- "*To confide* in" modifies the noun "friend."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a trustworthy friend *to confide* in).
Confiding (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Confiding in someone you trust is important.
Confiding in someone you trust is important.
- "*Confiding* in someone you trust" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important).
- 2Object
I enjoy confiding in my journal.
I enjoy confiding in my journal.
- "*Confiding* in my journal" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*confiding* in my journal).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a fear of confiding in others.
She has a fear of confiding in others.
- "Of *confiding* in others" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *confiding* in others).
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
We plan to confide in each other for support.
They hope to confide in their therapist for guidance.
She wants to confide in her best friend about her feelings.
He decided to confide in his parents about his struggles.
They agreed to confide in each other to strengthen their relationship.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They enjoy confiding in each other for support.
I recommend confiding in a professional therapist for guidance.
She dislikes the idea of confiding in strangers.
He avoids confiding in people who gossip.
Can you imagine yourself confiding in a complete stranger?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to confide in her sister. She likes confiding in her sister.
We started to confide in each other. We started confiding in each other.
He began to confide in his closest friends. He began confiding in his closest friends.
