When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To forage (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to forage" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to forage for mushrooms in the forest.
Foraging (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "foraging" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Foraging is a great way to connect with nature.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To forage (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To forage for food is a survival skill.
To forage for food is a survival skill.
- "*To forage* for food" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a survival skill).
- 2Object
She wants me to forage for berries.
She wants me to forage for berries.
- "Me *to forage* for berries" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to forage* for berries).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a guide to forage in the wilderness.
We need a guide to forage in the wilderness.
- "*To forage* in the wilderness" modifies the noun "guide."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a guide *to forage* in the wilderness).
Foraging (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Foraging requires knowledge of edible plants.
Foraging requires knowledge of edible plants.
- "*Foraging*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (knowledge of edible plants).
- 2Object
I enjoy foraging for wild mushrooms.
I enjoy foraging for wild mushrooms.
- "*Foraging* for wild mushrooms" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*foraging* for wild mushrooms).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a passion for foraging in the countryside.
She has a passion for foraging in the countryside.
- "For *foraging* in the countryside" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *foraging* in the countryside).
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 forage for wild edibles next week.
I hope to forage for mushrooms during my camping trip.
He wants to forage for herbs in his backyard.
We decided to forage for fresh ingredients for our meal.
They agreed to forage together in the forest.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They enjoy foraging for edible plants in the forest.
Experts recommend foraging as a sustainable way to gather food.
I dislike the idea of foraging in unfamiliar areas.
He avoids foraging in polluted environments.
Can you imagine yourself foraging for fresh produce?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to forage for berries in the wild. She likes foraging for berries in the wild.
We started to forage for mushrooms in our garden. We started foraging for mushrooms in our garden.
He began to forage for herbs in the forest. He began foraging for herbs in the forest.
