To Divagate vs Divagating 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 divagate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to divagate and explore new places.

Divagating (Gerund)

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

Example

Divagating is a way to expand your horizons.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To divagate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To divagate is a way to break free from routine.

  To divagate is a way to break free from routine.

  • "*To divagate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a way to break free from routine).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to divagate with her on the trip.

  She wants me to divagate with her on the trip.

  • "Me *to divagate* with her on the trip" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to divagate* with her on the trip).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a map to divagate through the forest.

  I need a map to divagate through the forest.

  • "*To divagate* through the forest" modifies the noun "map."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a map *to divagate* through the forest).

Divagating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Divagating allows for new experiences.

  Divagating allows for new experiences.

  • "*Divagating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (allows) + noun phrase (for new experiences).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy divagating and discovering hidden gems.

  I enjoy divagating and discovering hidden gems.

  • "*Divagating* and discovering hidden gems" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*divagating* and discovering hidden gems).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for divagating in unknown places.

  She has a passion for divagating in unknown places.

  • "For *divagating* in unknown places" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *divagating* in unknown places).

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 divagate in the city tomorrow.

They hope to divagate in nature during their vacation.

He wants to divagate in unfamiliar territories.

We decided to divagate in the mountains this weekend.

They agreed to divagate together in the wilderness.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys divagating in different countries.

They recommend divagating as a way to broaden your perspective.

I dislike the idea of divagating without a plan.

He avoids divagating in dangerous areas.

Can you imagine yourself divagating in remote locations?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to divagate in unexplored territories. She likes divagating in unexplored territories.

We started to divagate during our backpacking trip. We started divagating during our backpacking trip.

He began to divagate after reading travel blogs. He began divagating after reading travel blogs.