To Elapse vs Elapsed 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 elapse (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to elapse more time before making a decision.

Elapsed (Gerund)

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

Example

Elapsed time cannot be recovered.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To elapse (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To elapse is inevitable.

  To elapse is inevitable.

  • "*To elapse*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (inevitable).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to elapse a few days before responding.

  She wants me to elapse a few days before responding.

  • "Me *to elapse* a few days before responding" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to elapse* a few days before responding).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need more time to elapse before reaching a conclusion.

  We need more time to elapse before reaching a conclusion.

  • "More time *to elapse* before reaching a conclusion" modifies the noun "time."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (more time *to elapse* before reaching a conclusion).

Elapsed (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Elapsed time is lost forever.

  Elapsed time is lost forever.

  • "*Elapsed* time" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (lost forever).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy elapsed time spent with loved ones.

  I enjoy elapsed time spent with loved ones.

  • "*Elapsed* time spent with loved ones" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*elapsed* time spent with loved ones).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has fond memories of elapsed time.

  She has fond memories of elapsed time.

  • "Of *elapsed* time" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (fond memories of *elapsed* time).

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 elapse a week before making a decision.

They hope to elapse enough time to gather all the information.

He wants to elapse several months before taking action.

We decided to elapse a few more days before finalizing the deal.

They agreed to elapse some time to consider the proposal.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys elapsed time exploring new places.

They recommend avoiding excessive elapsed time on social media.

I dislike the feeling of elapsed time slipping away.

He avoids wasting elapsed time on unproductive activities.

Can you imagine the possibilities in elapsed time?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to elapse hours in solitude. She likes elapsed time spent in solitude.

We started to elapse the required time period. We started elapsed time counting for the experiment.

He began to elapse the waiting time. He began elapsed time ticking away.