To Dismantle vs Dismantling 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 dismantle (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to dismantle the old furniture and sell the parts.

Dismantling (Gerund)

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

Example

Dismantling the machinery requires careful attention to detail.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To dismantle (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To dismantle the machine requires a lot of skill.

  To dismantle the machine requires a lot of skill.

  • "*To dismantle* the machine" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of skill).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to dismantle the car engine.

  He wants me to dismantle the car engine.

  • "Me *to dismantle* the car engine" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to dismantle* the car engine).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a screwdriver to dismantle the device.

  We need a screwdriver to dismantle the device.

  • "*To dismantle* the device" modifies the noun "screwdriver."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a screwdriver *to dismantle* the device).

Dismantling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Dismantling the system will take several hours.

  Dismantling the system will take several hours.

  • "*Dismantling* the system" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (will take) + noun phrase (several hours).
• 2. Object

  We enjoy dismantling old electronics and salvaging useful parts.

  We enjoy dismantling old electronics and salvaging useful parts.

  • "*Dismantling* old electronics and salvaging useful parts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*dismantling* old electronics and salvaging useful parts).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for dismantling and repairing clocks.

  She has a talent for dismantling and repairing clocks.

  • "For *dismantling* and repairing clocks" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *dismantling* and repairing clocks).

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

• agree
• plan
• refuse
• decide
• offer

Example

They agreed to dismantle the old building and construct a new one.

She plans to dismantle the old fence and replace it with a new one.

He refused to dismantle the faulty equipment and demanded a replacement.

We decided to dismantle the old structure and repurpose the materials.

They offered to dismantle the furniture for free if we bought new ones.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• resist
• understand

Example

They recommend dismantling the machine before transporting it.

He avoids dismantling delicate items to prevent damage.

We are considering dismantling the old structure and rebuilding from scratch.

She resisted dismantling the artwork despite its deteriorating condition.

Can you understand the process of dismantling and reassembling the device?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• help

Example

I would like to dismantle the old furniture and repurpose the materials. I would like dismantling the old furniture and repurposing the materials.

He began to dismantle the machinery piece by piece. He began dismantling the machinery piece by piece.

They helped to dismantle the structure safely and efficiently. They helped dismantling the structure safely and efficiently.