To Extricate vs Extricating 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 extricate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to extricate myself from this difficult situation.

Extricating (Gerund)

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

Example

Extricating yourself from a complicated situation can be challenging.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To extricate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To extricate oneself from a bad relationship takes courage.

  To extricate oneself from a bad relationship takes courage.

  • "*To extricate* oneself from a bad relationship" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (takes) + noun phrase (courage).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to extricate her from the financial crisis.

  She wants me to extricate her from the financial crisis.

  • "Me *to extricate* her from the financial crisis" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to extricate* her from the financial crisis).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a tool to extricate the stuck bolt.

  He needs a tool to extricate the stuck bolt.

  • "*To extricate* the stuck bolt" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a tool *to extricate* the stuck bolt).

Extricating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Extricating oneself from an addiction requires determination.

  Extricating oneself from an addiction requires determination.

  • "*Extricating* oneself from an addiction" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (determination).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy extricating others from difficult circumstances.

  I enjoy extricating others from difficult circumstances.

  • "*Extricating* others from difficult circumstances" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*extricating* others from difficult circumstances).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for extricating people from tricky situations.

  She has a talent for extricating people from tricky situations.

  • "For *extricating* people from tricky situations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *extricating* people from tricky situations).

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

• decide
• attempt
• refuse
• wish
• struggle

Example

They decided to extricate themselves from the toxic environment.

She attempted to extricate the truth from the lies.

He refused to extricate himself from the responsibility.

I wish to extricate myself from this never-ending cycle.

We struggled to extricate the company from bankruptcy.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• resist
• imagine

Example

He avoids extricating himself from responsibility.

They recommend regularly extricating negative thoughts from your mind.

I am considering extricating myself from this toxic friendship.

She resisted extricating herself from the toxic relationship.

Can you imagine extricating yourself from a dangerous situation?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I like to extricate myself from challenging situations. I like extricating myself from challenging situations.

He began to extricate himself from the bad habit. He began extricating himself from the bad habit.

They continue to extricate themselves from difficult circumstances. They continue extricating themselves from difficult circumstances.