To Defile vs Defiling 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 defile (Infinitive)

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

Example

They refuse to defile the sacred ground.

Defiling (Gerund)

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

Example

Defiling sacred places is considered sacrilegious.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To defile (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To defile is a grave offense in their culture.

  To defile is a grave offense in their culture.

  • "*To defile*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a grave offense in their culture).
• 2. Object

  She wants them to defile the temple.

  She wants them to defile the temple.

  • "Them *to defile* the temple" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (them *to defile* the temple).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a clean cloth to defile the table.

  He needs a clean cloth to defile the table.

  • "*To defile* the table" modifies the noun "cloth."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a clean cloth *to defile* the table).

Defiling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Defiling is a serious crime in their society.

  Defiling is a serious crime in their society.

  • "*Defiling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious crime in their society).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy defiling their plans.

  I enjoy defiling their plans.

  • "*Defiling* their plans" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*defiling* their plans).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for defiling ancient artifacts.

  She has a passion for defiling ancient artifacts.

  • "For *defiling* ancient artifacts" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *defiling* ancient artifacts).

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 defile the evidence before the trial.

They hope to defile their enemy's reputation.

He wants to defile the sacred artifact.

We decided to defile the enemy's base.

They agreed to defile the peace treaty.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys defiling their reputation.

They recommend avoiding defiling sacred grounds.

I dislike the act of defiling historical sites.

He avoids defiling cultural symbols.

Can you imagine yourself defiling a sacred space?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to defile sacred objects. She likes defiling sacred objects.

We started to defile the forbidden territory. We started defiling the forbidden territory.

He began to defile the holy ground. He began defiling the holy ground.