To Evocate vs Evocating 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 evocate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to evocate the memories of my childhood.

Evocating (Gerund)

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

Example

Evocating memories can be therapeutic.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To evocate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To evocate is an important skill for storytellers.

  To evocate is an important skill for storytellers.

  • "*To evocate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important skill for storytellers).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to evocate the emotions of the audience.

  She wants me to evocate the emotions of the audience.

  • "Me *to evocate* the emotions of the audience" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to evocate* the emotions of the audience).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a technique to evocate strong feelings in my writing.

  I need a technique to evocate strong feelings in my writing.

  • "*To evocate* strong feelings in my writing" modifies the noun "technique."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a technique *to evocate* strong feelings in my writing).

Evocating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Evocating emotions requires sensitivity.

  Evocating emotions requires sensitivity.

  • "*Evocating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (sensitivity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy evocating a sense of wonder in my paintings.

  I enjoy evocating a sense of wonder in my paintings.

  • "*Evocating* a sense of wonder in my paintings" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*evocating* a sense of wonder in my paintings).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for evocating memories.

  She has a talent for evocating memories.

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

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 evocate memories through her artwork.

They hope to evocate nostalgia with their music.

He wants to evocate a sense of wonder in his photography.

We decided to evocate a specific mood in our film.

They agreed to evocate powerful emotions in their performance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• imagine
• avoid
• practice

Example

She enjoys evocating emotions through her poetry.

They recommend evocating memories for personal growth.

Can you imagine evocating a sense of nostalgia with your writing?

He avoids evocating negative emotions in his artwork.

I practice evocating different moods in my acting.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to evocate vivid images through her storytelling. She likes evocating memories through her photography.

We started to evocate the essence of nature in our paintings. We started evocating emotions in our music.

He began to evocate childhood memories in his writing. He began evocating a sense of tranquility in his artwork.