When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To emend (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to emend" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to emend this document to correct any errors.
Emending (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "emending" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Emending is a necessary task in the editing process.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To emend (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To emend is an important step in the editing process.
To emend is an important step in the editing process.
- "*To emend*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in the editing process).
- 2Object
She wants me to emend her essay before she submits it.
She wants me to emend her essay before she submits it.
- "Me *to emend* her essay before she submits it" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to emend* her essay before she submits it).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a red pen to emend this paper.
I need a red pen to emend this paper.
- "*To emend* this paper" modifies the noun "pen."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a red pen *to emend* this paper).
Emending (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Emending requires attention to detail.
Emending requires attention to detail.
- "*Emending*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (attention to detail).
- 2Object
I enjoy emending manuscripts to improve their quality.
I enjoy emending manuscripts to improve their quality.
- "*Emending* manuscripts to improve their quality" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*emending* manuscripts to improve their quality).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a passion for emending written works.
She has a passion for emending written works.
- "For *emending* written works" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *emending* written works).
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
Example
He plans to emend the report tomorrow.
They hope to emend the manuscript before it's published.
She wants to emend the article for clarity.
We decided to emend the contract for accuracy.
They agreed to emend the errors in the document together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys emending articles for publication.
They recommend regular emending for better writing skills.
I dislike the task of emending lengthy documents.
She avoids emending plagiarized content.
Can you imagine yourself emending famous literary works?
