To Dole vs Doling 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 dole (Infinitive)

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

Example

The organization decided to dole out food to those in need.

Doling (Gerund)

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

Example

Doling out resources requires careful consideration.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To dole (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To dole out food is an important task for the volunteers.

  To dole out food is an important task for the volunteers.

  • "*To dole* out food" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important task for the volunteers).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to dole out the supplies.

  She wants me to dole out the supplies.

  • "Me *to dole* out the supplies" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to dole* out the supplies).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a system to dole out resources fairly.

  We need a system to dole out resources fairly.

  • "*To dole* out resources fairly" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a system *to dole* out resources fairly).

Doling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Doling out resources is a challenging task for the committee.

  Doling out resources is a challenging task for the committee.

  • "*Doling* out resources" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging task for the committee).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy doling out treats to the children.

  I enjoy doling out treats to the children.

  • "*Doling* out treats to the children" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*doling* out treats to the children).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has experience in the art of doling out advice.

  He has experience in the art of doling out advice.

  • "In the art of *doling* out advice" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in the art of *doling* out advice).

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

They plan to dole out blankets to the homeless this winter.

He hopes to dole out medicine to remote areas.

She wants to dole out school supplies to underprivileged children.

We decided to dole out cash prizes for the competition winners.

They agreed to dole out grants to deserving students.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• imagine

Example

They recommend regular doling out of rewards for employee motivation.

She avoids doling out punishments without considering the circumstances.

We are considering doling out bonuses based on performance.

Do you mind doling out the brochures to the attendees?

Can you imagine yourself doling out gifts to children in need?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to dole out compliments to his team members. He likes doling out compliments to his team members.

They started to dole out monthly allowances to the residents. They started doling out monthly allowances to the residents.

She began to dole out assignments to the students. She began doling out assignments to the students.