To Confine vs Confining 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 confine (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to confine the cat to the living room.

Confining (Gerund)

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

Example

Confining the bird to its cage is important for its safety.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To confine (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To confine the dog is necessary for its safety.

  To confine the dog is necessary for its safety.

  • "*To confine* the dog" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (necessary for its safety).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to confine the bird in its cage.

  She wants me to confine the bird in its cage.

  • "Me *to confine* the bird in its cage" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to confine* the bird in its cage).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a bigger box to confine all the toys.

  I need a bigger box to confine all the toys.

  • "*To confine* all the toys" modifies the noun "box."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a bigger box *to confine* all the toys).

Confining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Confining children to their rooms as punishment is controversial.

  Confining children to their rooms as punishment is controversial.

  • "*Confining* children to their rooms as punishment" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (controversial).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy confining my thoughts to my journal.

  I enjoy confining my thoughts to my journal.

  • "*Confining* my thoughts to my journal" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*confining* my thoughts to my journal).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of confining spaces.

  She has a fear of confining spaces.

  • "Of *confining* spaces" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *confining* spaces).

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
• plan
• refuse
• hope
• attempt

Example

We decided to confine the patient to their room for quarantine.

She plans to confine the rabbits in a hutch outside.

He refused to confine himself to one genre of music.

They hope to confine the noise to a specific area.

We attempted to confine the fire to one room.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• imagine

Example

He avoids confining animals to small cages.

They recommend confining electronics to designated areas in the classroom.

Do you mind confining your dog to the backyard?

We are considering confining the project to a specific timeline.

Can you imagine confining yourself to a tiny room for a month?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to confine her workspace to keep it organized. She likes confining her workspace to keep it organized.

We started to confine our outdoor activities to avoid the rain. We started confining our outdoor activities to avoid the rain.

He began to confine his study sessions to the library. He began confining his study sessions to the library.