When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To deserve (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to deserve" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I deserve to win the award for my hard work.
Deserving (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "deserving" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Deserving praise, she received an award for her outstanding work.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To deserve (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To deserve recognition, you must put in the effort.
To deserve recognition, you must put in the effort.
- "*To deserve* recognition" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (must) + noun phrase (the effort).
- 2Object
She believes I deserve her to win the competition.
She believes I deserve her to win the competition.
- "I deserve her *to win* the competition" is the object of the verb "believes."
- Noun (She) + verb (believes) + noun phrase (I deserve her *to win* the competition).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a chance to deserve a promotion.
He needs a chance to deserve a promotion.
- "*To deserve* a promotion" modifies the noun "chance."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a chance *to deserve* a promotion).
Deserving (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Deserving recognition is important for motivation.
Deserving recognition is important for motivation.
- "*Deserving* recognition" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important for motivation).
- 2Object
I appreciate her deserving the promotion.
I appreciate her deserving the promotion.
- "Her *deserving* the promotion" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
- Noun (I) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (her *deserving* the promotion).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has doubts about his deserving the award.
He has doubts about his deserving the award.
- "About his *deserving* the award" is the object of the preposition "about."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (doubts about his *deserving* the award).
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
Example
She plans to deserve a break after completing the project.
They hope to deserve a raise for their performance.
He wants to deserve the opportunity to prove himself.
We decided to deserve a vacation after months of hard work.
They agreed to deserve recognition for their achievements.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys deserving the recognition for her hard work.
They recommend deserving candidates for the scholarship.
I dislike the idea of someone deserving special treatment.
He avoids deserving criticism by being punctual and reliable.
Can you imagine yourself deserving all the success you desire?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to deserve a fair chance. She likes deserving praise for her accomplishments.
We started to deserve better opportunities. We started deserving recognition for our hard work.
He began to deserve respect from his peers. He began deserving the admiration of others.
