To Falsify vs Falsifying 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 falsify (Infinitive)

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

Example

The investigator attempted to falsify the evidence.

Falsifying (Gerund)

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

Example

Falsifying evidence is a criminal act.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To falsify (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To falsify is a serious offense in the legal system.

  To falsify is a serious offense in the legal system.

  • "*To falsify*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious offense in the legal system).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to falsify the documents.

  He wants me to falsify the documents.

  • "Me *to falsify* the documents" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to falsify* the documents).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a reliable witness to falsify their alibi.

  They need a reliable witness to falsify their alibi.

  • "*To falsify* their alibi" modifies the noun "witness."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable witness *to falsify* their alibi).

Falsifying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Falsifying documents is illegal.

  Falsifying documents is illegal.

  • "*Falsifying* documents" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (illegal).
• 2. Object

  He admitted falsifying the financial statements.

  He admitted falsifying the financial statements.

  • "*Falsifying* the financial statements" is the object of the verb "admitted."
  • Noun (He) + verb (admitted) + gerund (*falsifying* the financial statements).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They were accused of falsifying evidence.

  They were accused of falsifying evidence.

  • "*Falsifying* evidence" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (were accused) + preposition (of) + gerund (*falsifying* evidence).

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
• pretend
• choose

Example

She plans to falsify the records to cover up the crime.

He refused to falsify the data for unethical reasons.

They demanded him to falsify his testimony.

She pretended to falsify the evidence to mislead the jury.

We chose to falsify the information to protect our reputation.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• deny
• resist

Example

He avoids falsifying data by maintaining strict integrity.

She is considering falsifying the records to protect her interests.

Experts strongly recommend against falsifying information.

They denied falsifying the reports despite the evidence.

He resisted falsifying the test results even under pressure.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to falsify facts to support her argument. She likes falsifying facts to support her argument.

He started to falsify the records for personal gain. He started falsifying the records for personal gain.

They began to falsify the data to manipulate the outcome. They began falsifying the data to manipulate the outcome.