To Despise vs Despising 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 despise (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to despise anyone based on their appearance.

Despising (Gerund)

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

Example

Despising others only leads to negativity in one's own life.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To despise (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To despise is a negative emotion.

  To despise is a negative emotion.

  • "*To despise*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a negative emotion).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to despise her ex-boyfriend.

  She wants me to despise her ex-boyfriend.

  • "Me *to despise* her ex-boyfriend" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to despise* her ex-boyfriend).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a reason to despise him.

  I need a reason to despise him.

  • "*To despise* him" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reason *to despise* him).

Despising (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Despising others is not a healthy attitude.

  Despising others is not a healthy attitude.

  • "*Despising* others" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a healthy attitude).
• 2. Object

  I regret despising my classmates in high school.

  I regret despising my classmates in high school.

  • "*Despising* my classmates in high school" is the object of the verb "regret."
  • Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*despising* my classmates in high school).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of despising people who disagree with her.

  She has a habit of despising people who disagree with her.

  • "Of *despising* people who disagree with her" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *despising* people who disagree with her).

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

• decide
• learn
• refuse
• pretend
• determine

Example

He decided to despise social media and deleted all his accounts.

She learned to despise broccoli after trying it for the first time.

They refused to despise their opponents and treated them with respect.

I pretended to despise the movie, but secretly I loved it.

We determined to despise injustice and fight for equality.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• discuss

Example

He avoids despising others and focuses on empathy and understanding.

They consider despising someone as a sign of insecurity and lack of self-esteem.

I recommend despising no one and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

Do you mind despising the taste of cilantro?

Let's discuss the consequences of despising different cultures.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to despise people who are dishonest. She likes despising people who are dishonest.

We started to despise the new policy. We started despising the new policy.

He began to despise his job after constant mistreatment. He began despising his job after constant mistreatment.