To Fledge vs Fledging 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 fledge (Infinitive)

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

Example

The baby birds are learning to fledge and leave the nest.

Fledging (Gerund)

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

Example

Fledging is an exciting time for birdwatchers.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To fledge (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To fledge is an important milestone for young birds.

  To fledge is an important milestone for young birds.

  • "*To fledge*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important milestone for young birds).
• 2. Object

  She wants the baby birds to fledge before winter comes.

  She wants the baby birds to fledge before winter comes.

  • "The baby birds *to fledge* before winter comes" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (the baby birds *to fledge* before winter comes).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a safe place to fledge his young.

  He needs a safe place to fledge his young.

  • "*To fledge* his young" modifies the noun "place."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a safe place *to fledge* his young).

Fledging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Fledging can be a challenging process for young birds.

  Fledging can be a challenging process for young birds.

  • "*Fledging*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + noun phrase (a challenging process for young birds).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy watching the fledging of baby birds.

  I enjoy watching the fledging of baby birds.

  • "Watching the *fledging* of baby birds" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (watching the *fledging* of baby birds).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for the fledging of all bird species.

  She has a passion for the fledging of all bird species.

  • "For the *fledging* of all bird species" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for the *fledging* of all bird species).

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
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

They plan to fledge the birds in a few weeks.

I hope to fledge the chicks successfully.

We want the birds to fledge naturally.

He decided to fledge the fledglings early.

They agreed to fledge the nestlings together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

Birdwatchers enjoy fledging season.

Experts recommend observing the fledging process from a distance.

I dislike the noise during the fledging period.

Birds should avoid human interference during fledging.

Can you imagine witnessing the first fledging of a bird?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to fledge the baby birds herself. She likes fledging the baby birds herself.

We started to fledge birds in our backyard. We started fledging birds in our backyard.

He began to fledge birds as a hobby. He began fledging birds as a hobby.