To Defreeze vs Defreezing 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 defreeze (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to defreeze the refrigerator before I can use it.

Defreezing (Gerund)

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

Example

Defreezing the pipes is essential to prevent them from bursting.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To defreeze (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To defreeze is a necessary step in food preparation.

  To defreeze is a necessary step in food preparation.

  • "*To defreeze*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary step in food preparation).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to defreeze the meat.

  She wants me to defreeze the meat.

  • "Me *to defreeze* the meat" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to defreeze* the meat).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a microwave to defreeze the frozen vegetables.

  I need a microwave to defreeze the frozen vegetables.

  • "*To defreeze* the frozen vegetables" modifies the noun "microwave."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a microwave *to defreeze* the frozen vegetables).

Defreezing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Defreezing takes time and patience.

  Defreezing takes time and patience.

  • "*Defreezing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (takes) + noun phrase (time and patience).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy defreezing the frozen foods.

  I enjoy defreezing the frozen foods.

  • "*Defreezing* the frozen foods" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*defreezing* the frozen foods).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has experience in defreezing various appliances.

  She has experience in defreezing various appliances.

  • "In *defreezing* various appliances" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *defreezing* various appliances).

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 defreeze the chicken for dinner tomorrow.

They hope to defreeze the ice cream before it melts.

He wants to defreeze the car windshield.

We decided to defreeze the pipes before winter arrives.

They agreed to defreeze the fish for the party.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys defreezing the car windows on cold mornings.

They recommend using a hairdryer for faster defreezing.

I dislike the process of defreezing meat in the microwave.

He avoids defreezing food in the microwave due to uneven heating.

Can you imagine yourself defreezing a whole turkey?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to defreeze the freezer regularly. She likes defreezing the freezer regularly.

We started to defreeze the ice cubes. We started defreezing the ice cubes.

He began to defreeze the windshield every morning. He began defreezing the windshield every morning.