To Encage vs Encaging 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 encage (Infinitive)

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

Example

The zookeeper decided to encage the wild animals for their safety.

Encaging (Gerund)

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

Example

Encaging wild animals requires special skills and equipment.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To encage (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To encage wild animals is a necessary precaution in zoos.

  To encage wild animals is a necessary precaution in zoos.

  • "*To encage* wild animals" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary precaution in zoos).
• 2. Object

  They want the zookeeper to encage the dangerous animal.

  They want the zookeeper to encage the dangerous animal.

  • "The zookeeper *to encage* the dangerous animal" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (the zookeeper *to encage* the dangerous animal).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a strong fence to encage the lions.

  He needs a strong fence to encage the lions.

  • "*To encage* the lions" modifies the noun "fence."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a strong fence *to encage* the lions).

Encaging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Encaging wild animals is a challenging task for zookeepers.

  Encaging wild animals is a challenging task for zookeepers.

  • "*Encaging* wild animals" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging task for zookeepers).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy encaging different species of birds.

  I enjoy encaging different species of birds.

  • "*Encaging* different species of birds" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*encaging* different species of birds).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for encaging dangerous animals.

  She has a talent for encaging dangerous animals.

  • "For *encaging* dangerous animals" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *encaging* dangerous animals).

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
• refuse
• attempt
• choose

Example

The architect plans to encage the rooftop garden to keep out pests.

She hopes to encage the birds in a spacious aviary.

They refused to encage the wild animals due to ethical concerns.

We attempted to encage the escaped monkey before it caused any harm.

He chose to encage the reptiles in a glass enclosure.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• mind

Example

She enjoys encaging wild animals as part of her job at the zoo.

They recommend professional training for encaging large predators.

I avoid encaging venomous snakes without proper protective gear.

Can you imagine yourself encaging a fully grown lion?

He doesn't mind encaging the monkeys even though they can be mischievous.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She likes to encage exotic animals in spacious enclosures. She likes encaging exotic animals in spacious enclosures.

We began to encage the birds for their own safety. We began encaging the birds for their own safety.

He continues to encage the animals with utmost care. He continues encaging the animals with utmost care.