When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To empassion (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to empassion" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to empassion others with my art.
Empassioning (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "empassioning" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Empassioning others is a powerful way to create change.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To empassion (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To empassion is the goal of my artistic expression.
To empassion is the goal of my artistic expression.
- "*To empassion*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the goal of my artistic expression).
- 2Object
She wants me to empassion the audience with my performance.
She wants me to empassion the audience with my performance.
- "Me *to empassion* the audience with my performance" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to empassion* the audience with my performance).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a platform to empassion others through my writing.
I need a platform to empassion others through my writing.
- "*To empassion* others through my writing" modifies the noun "platform."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to empassion* others through my writing).
Empassioning (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Empassioning others requires empathy and understanding.
Empassioning others requires empathy and understanding.
- "*Empassioning* others" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (empathy and understanding).
- 2Object
I enjoy empassioning people through my speeches.
I enjoy empassioning people through my speeches.
- "*Empassioning* people through my speeches" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*empassioning* people through my speeches).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for empassioning others with her stories.
She has a talent for empassioning others with her stories.
- "For *empassioning* others with her stories" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *empassioning* others with her stories).
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
She plans to empassion her audience with her speech tomorrow.
They hope to empassion the world with their music during their tour.
He wants to empassion people with his paintings.
We decided to empassion others through our documentary film.
They agreed to empassion the crowd with their dance performance.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys empassioning her audience through her performances.
They recommend empassioning others through acts of kindness.
I dislike the idea of empassioning people with false promises.
He avoids empassioning others with aggressive tactics.
Can you imagine yourself empassioning the world with your ideas?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to empassion her followers with motivational quotes. She likes empassioning her followers with motivational quotes.
We started to empassion others through community service. We started empassioning others through community service.
He began to empassion people with his activism. He began empassioning people with his activism.
