To Defy vs Defying 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 defy (Infinitive)

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

Example

She decided to defy the odds and pursue her dreams.

Defying (Gerund)

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

Example

Defying authority can lead to consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To defy (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To defy authority takes courage.

  To defy authority takes courage.

  • "*To defy* authority" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (takes) + noun phrase (courage).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to defy his expectations.

  He wants me to defy his expectations.

  • "Me *to defy* his expectations" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to defy* his expectations).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a leader to defy the status quo.

  They need a leader to defy the status quo.

  • "*To defy* the status quo" modifies the noun "leader."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a leader *to defy* the status quo).

Defying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Defying rules is not always the best choice.

  Defying rules is not always the best choice.

  • "*Defying* rules" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not always the best choice).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy defying expectations and proving people wrong.

  I enjoy defying expectations and proving people wrong.

  • "*Defying* expectations and proving people wrong" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*defying* expectations and proving people wrong).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for defying authority.

  She has a knack for defying authority.

  • "For *defying* authority" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *defying* authority).

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

She plans to defy all obstacles and achieve her goals.

They hope to defy expectations and prove their doubters wrong.

He wants to defy societal norms and live life on his own terms.

We decided to defy the odds and create our own path.

They agreed to defy conventional wisdom and take a different approach.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys defying societal norms and challenging the status quo.

They recommend defying limitations and pushing boundaries.

I dislike the idea of defying established rules and regulations.

He avoids defying authority figures and prefers to maintain harmony.

Can you imagine yourself defying expectations and achieving greatness?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to defy traditional norms. She likes defying traditional norms.

We started to defy societal expectations. We started defying societal expectations.

He began to defy the rules of the game. He began defying the rules of the game.