To Defrost vs Defrosting 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 defrost (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to defrost the chicken before cooking it.

Defrosting (Gerund)

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

Example

Defrosting the car windows takes time on cold mornings.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To defrost (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To defrost the freezer, unplug it and let the ice melt.

  To defrost the freezer, unplug it and let the ice melt.

  • "*To defrost* the freezer" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (unplug) + pronoun (it) + conjunction (and) + verb (let) + noun phrase (the ice melt).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to defrost the car windows.

  She asked him to defrost the car windows.

  • "*To defrost* the car windows" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + pronoun (him) + infinitive phrase (to defrost the car windows).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a microwave to defrost frozen food quickly.

  We need a microwave to defrost frozen food quickly.

  • "*To defrost* frozen food quickly" modifies the noun "microwave."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a microwave *to defrost* frozen food quickly).

Defrosting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Defrosting meat should be done in the refrigerator.

  Defrosting meat should be done in the refrigerator.

  • "*Defrosting* meat" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (should be done) + prepositional phrase (in the refrigerator).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy defrosting frozen vegetables for cooking.

  I enjoy defrosting frozen vegetables for cooking.

  • "*Defrosting* frozen vegetables for cooking" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*defrosting* frozen vegetables for cooking).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for defrosting items quickly.

  She has a knack for defrosting items quickly.

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

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 defrost the fridge tomorrow.

They hope to defrost the windshield before the trip.

He wants to defrost the leftovers for dinner.

We decided to defrost the freezer this weekend.

They agreed to defrost the pipes together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys defrosting the freezer during spring cleaning.

They recommend using a microwave for faster defrosting.

I dislike the process of defrosting food in the sink.

He avoids defrosting items at room temperature.

Can you imagine yourself defrosting a whole turkey?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to defrost her car windows with warm water. She likes defrosting her car windows with warm water.

We started to defrost the fridge before the party. We started defrosting the fridge before the party.

He began to defrost the freezer every month. He began defrosting the freezer every month.