To Cull vs Culling 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 cull (Infinitive)

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

Example

The farmers decided to cull the herd to control the spread of disease.

Culling (Gerund)

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

Example

Culling is a controversial practice in wildlife conservation.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To cull (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To cull is a necessary practice in wildlife management.

  To cull is a necessary practice in wildlife management.

  • "*To cull*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary practice in wildlife management).
• 2. Object

  They asked him to cull the weak and sick animals.

  They asked him to cull the weak and sick animals.

  • "Him *to cull* the weak and sick animals" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to cull* the weak and sick animals).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a sharp knife to cull the fruits from the tree.

  She needs a sharp knife to cull the fruits from the tree.

  • "*To cull* the fruits from the tree" modifies the noun "knife."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a sharp knife *to cull* the fruits from the tree).

Culling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Culling can help maintain a healthy population of animals.

  Culling can help maintain a healthy population of animals.

  • "*Culling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can) + noun phrase (maintain a healthy population of animals).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy culling unwanted plants from my garden.

  I enjoy culling unwanted plants from my garden.

  • "*Culling* unwanted plants from my garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*culling* unwanted plants from my garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has experience in the art of culling.

  He has experience in the art of culling.

  • "In the art of *culling*" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in the art of *culling*).

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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

The hunters plan to cull the deer population next month.

We hope to cull enough fish for our research project.

He wants to cull the invasive species from the river.

They decided to cull the old trees to make space for new ones.

The team agreed to cull the weak players from the roster.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• dislike
• consider
• imagine

Example

We should avoid culling endangered species.

Experts recommend strategic culling to maintain ecosystem balance.

I dislike the idea of culling wild animals for sport.

They are considering culling the overpopulated rabbit population.

Can you imagine culling hundreds of trees in a day?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She would like to cull the excess fish in the pond. She would like culling the excess fish in the pond.

They started to cull the infected plants. They started culling the infected plants.

He began to cull the weaker members of the group. He began culling the weaker members of the group.