When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To faint (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to faint" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to faint during the performance to create a dramatic effect.
Fainting (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "fainting" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Fainting can be caused by various factors.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To faint (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To faint is not a pleasant experience.
To faint is not a pleasant experience.
- "*To faint*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a pleasant experience).
- 2Object
She wants me to faint in the play.
She wants me to faint in the play.
- "Me *to faint* in the play" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to faint* in the play).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a reason to faint at the sight of blood.
I need a reason to faint at the sight of blood.
- "*To faint* at the sight of blood" modifies the noun "reason."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reason *to faint* at the sight of blood).
Fainting (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Fainting is common in crowded places.
Fainting is common in crowded places.
- "*Fainting*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (common in crowded places).
- 2Object
I enjoy fainting in scary movies.
I enjoy fainting in scary movies.
- "*Fainting* in scary movies" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*fainting* in scary movies).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a fear of fainting in public.
She has a fear of fainting in public.
- "Of *fainting* in public" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *fainting* in public).
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
Example
She plans to faint at the wedding ceremony.
They hope to faint on stage during their performance.
He wants to faint in front of the audience.
We decided to faint at the haunted house.
They agreed to faint together in the scene.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys fainting at the sight of blood.
They recommend avoiding situations that may lead to fainting.
I dislike the feeling of fainting.
He avoids fainting in crowded places.
Can you imagine yourself fainting in front of a large audience?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to faint in dramatic scenes. She likes fainting in dramatic scenes.
We started to faint as part of our acting training. We started fainting as part of our acting training.
He began to faint at the sight of blood. He began fainting at the sight of blood.
