To Didder vs Diddering 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 didder (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to didder in front of the audience to show my nervousness.

Diddering (Gerund)

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

Example

Diddering can be a sign of anxiety or uncertainty.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To didder (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To didder is not a good idea when giving a presentation.

  To didder is not a good idea when giving a presentation.

  • "*To didder*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a good idea when giving a presentation).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to didder during the performance.

  She wants me to didder during the performance.

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

  I need a strategy to didder less on stage.

  I need a strategy to didder less on stage.

  • "*To didder* less on stage" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to didder* less on stage).

Diddering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Diddering is a common behavior in nervous individuals.

  Diddering is a common behavior in nervous individuals.

  • "*Diddering*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common behavior in nervous individuals).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy diddering before I have to make a difficult decision.

  I enjoy diddering before I have to make a difficult decision.

  • "*Diddering* before I have to make a difficult decision" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*diddering* before I have to make a difficult decision).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of diddering in front of others.

  She has a fear of diddering in front of others.

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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to didder during her solo performance.

They hope to didder less during their public speaking engagements.

He wants to didder in front of a large audience.

We decided to didder during the important meeting.

They agreed to didder together during the live broadcast.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys diddering before public speaking engagements.

They recommend practicing diddering techniques for stress management.

I dislike the feeling of diddering in social situations.

He avoids diddering during important business meetings.

Can you imagine yourself diddering in front of a crowd?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to didder when she is feeling nervous. She likes diddering before a big event.

We started to didder uncontrollably when the lights went out. We started diddering uncontrollably when the lights went out.

He began to didder as soon as he stepped on stage. He began diddering as soon as he stepped on stage.