To Deject vs Dejecting 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 deject (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to deject myself by dwelling on negative thoughts.

Dejecting (Gerund)

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

Example

Dejecting oneself can lead to a downward spiral of negativity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To deject (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To deject oneself is not productive.

  To deject oneself is not productive.

  • "*To deject* oneself" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not productive).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to deject myself from the situation.

  She wants me to deject myself from the situation.

  • "Me *to deject* myself from the situation" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to deject* myself from the situation).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a positive mindset to deject negative emotions.

  I need a positive mindset to deject negative emotions.

  • "*To deject* negative emotions" modifies the noun "positive mindset."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a positive mindset *to deject* negative emotions).

Dejecting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Dejecting oneself is not healthy for the mind.

  Dejecting oneself is not healthy for the mind.

  • "*Dejecting* oneself" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not healthy for the mind).
• 2. Object

  I dislike dejecting myself with negative thoughts.

  I dislike dejecting myself with negative thoughts.

  • "*Dejecting* myself with negative thoughts" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*dejecting* myself with negative thoughts).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of dejecting others.

  She has a fear of dejecting others.

  • "Of *dejecting* others" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *dejecting* others).

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

• refuse
• attempt
• choose
• determine
• wish

Example

They refuse to deject themselves by giving up.

He attempts to deject any doubts from his mind.

We choose to deject negative influences from our lives.

She determined to deject all negativity from her thoughts.

I wish to deject all self-doubt and embrace confidence.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• imagine
• consider
• recommend
• mind

Example

He avoids dejecting himself by focusing on positive aspects.

Can you imagine yourself dejecting others with your words?

They consider dejecting someone's spirit as an act of cruelty.

I recommend dejecting negative thoughts for better mental health.

Do you mind dejecting yourself from toxic relationships?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She likes to deject herself in solitude. She likes dejecting herself in solitude.

We began to deject negative energy from our lives. We began dejecting negative energy from our lives.

He continues to deject any self-doubt. He continues dejecting any self-doubt.