When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To farewell (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to farewell" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
We all gathered to farewell our departing colleague.
Farewelling (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "farewelling" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Farewelling can be emotional and bittersweet.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To farewell (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To farewell is a common tradition when someone leaves.
To farewell is a common tradition when someone leaves.
- "*To farewell*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a common tradition).
- 2Object
She asked me to farewell her at the airport.
She asked me to farewell her at the airport.
- "Me *to farewell* her at the airport" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to farewell* her at the airport).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a proper event to farewell his team.
He needs a proper event to farewell his team.
- "*To farewell* his team" modifies the noun "event."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a proper event *to farewell* his team).
Farewelling (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Farewelling is a way to show appreciation and gratitude.
Farewelling is a way to show appreciation and gratitude.
- "*Farewelling*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a way to show appreciation and gratitude).
- 2Object
I enjoy farewelling my friends before they leave.
I enjoy farewelling my friends before they leave.
- "*Farewelling* my friends before they leave" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*farewelling* my friends before they leave).
- 3Object of Preposition
They expressed their gratitude for farewelling their colleague.
They expressed their gratitude for farewelling their colleague.
- "For *farewelling* their colleague" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (They) + verb (expressed) + noun phrase (their gratitude for *farewelling* their colleague).
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
They plan to farewell their coach after the final game.
We decided to farewell him with a surprise party.
She wants to farewell her best friend before moving abroad.
He hopes to farewell his teammates on a positive note.
The company offered to farewell their retiring employees with a special ceremony.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys farewelling her teammates after the season ends.
Many people recommend farewelling loved ones with heartfelt messages.
He avoids farewelling anyone because it makes him sad.
They are considering farewelling their old traditions and embracing new ones.
Can you imagine farewelling your favorite teacher at the end of the school year?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
I would like to farewell my colleagues properly. I would like farewelling my colleagues properly.
They started to farewell their departing boss. They started farewelling their departing boss.
We began to farewell our dear friend who was moving away. We began farewelling our dear friend who was moving away.
