To Exhort vs Exhorting 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 exhort (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to exhort my teammates to give their best in the game.

Exhorting (Gerund)

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

Example

Exhorting others can inspire positive change.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To exhort (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To exhort is a powerful way to motivate others.

  To exhort is a powerful way to motivate others.

  • "*To exhort*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a powerful way to motivate others).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to exhort the team before the match.

  She wants me to exhort the team before the match.

  • "Me *to exhort* the team before the match" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to exhort* the team before the match).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a strong message to exhort my followers.

  I need a strong message to exhort my followers.

  • "*To exhort* my followers" modifies the noun "message."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strong message *to exhort* my followers).

Exhorting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Exhorting is an effective leadership technique.

  Exhorting is an effective leadership technique.

  • "*Exhorting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an effective leadership technique).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy exhorting my colleagues to strive for excellence.

  I enjoy exhorting my colleagues to strive for excellence.

  • "*Exhorting* my colleagues to strive for excellence" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*exhorting* my colleagues to strive for excellence).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for exhorting people to take action.

  She has a talent for exhorting people to take action.

  • "For *exhorting* people to take action" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *exhorting* people to take action).

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 exhort her employees to work harder.

They hope to exhort the audience to take action.

He wants to exhort the students to pursue their dreams.

We decided to exhort the community to support the cause.

They agreed to exhort the team to stay focused.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys exhorting her team to achieve their goals.

They recommend exhorting employees to embrace change.

I dislike the idea of exhorting others to do something unethical.

He avoids exhorting people without considering their feelings.

Can you imagine yourself exhorting a crowd with your speech?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to exhort her followers to take action. She likes exhorting her followers to take action.

We started to exhort our team to work harder. We started exhorting our team to work harder.

He began to exhort his colleagues to think creatively. He began exhorting his colleagues to think creatively.