To Expel vs Expelling 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 expel (Infinitive)

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

Example

The principal decided to expel the troublemaker from school.

Expelling (Gerund)

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

Example

Expelling a student should be a last resort.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To expel (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To expel a student is a serious disciplinary action.

  To expel a student is a serious disciplinary action.

  • "*To expel* a student" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious disciplinary action).
• 2. Object

  They want the teacher to expel the disruptive student.

  They want the teacher to expel the disruptive student.

  • "The teacher *to expel* the disruptive student" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (the teacher *to expel* the disruptive student).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a reason to expel the student.

  He needs a reason to expel the student.

  • "*To expel* the student" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to expel* the student).

Expelling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Expelling students is a difficult decision for schools.

  Expelling students is a difficult decision for schools.

  • "*Expelling* students" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a difficult decision for schools).
• 2. Object

  We appreciate the teacher's effort in expelling disruptive students.

  We appreciate the teacher's effort in expelling disruptive students.

  • "*Expelling* disruptive students" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (*expelling* disruptive students).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  The school faced criticism for expelling the student.

  The school faced criticism for expelling the student.

  • "For *expelling* the student" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (The school) + verb (faced) + noun phrase (criticism for *expelling* the student).

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
• refuse
• demand
• determine
• pretend

Example

The school plans to expel students who violate the code of conduct.

She refused to expel the student without proper investigation.

The parents demanded the school to expel the bully.

The committee determined to expel the cheating student.

He pretended to expel the student as a disciplinary action.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• delay
• deny

Example

The school tries to avoid expelling students whenever possible.

They are considering expelling the student for repeated offenses.

Experts recommend early intervention instead of expelling students.

The school decided to delay expelling the student until the end of the semester.

The board denied expelling the student based on insufficient evidence.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

The principal would like to expel disruptive students. The principal would like expelling disruptive students.

They began to expel students who consistently misbehave. They began expelling students who consistently misbehave.

The school will continue to expel students who pose a threat. The school will continue expelling students who pose a threat.