When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To frighten (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to frighten" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I don't want to frighten anyone with my scary costume.
Frightening (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "frightening" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Frightening others is not a nice thing to do.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To frighten (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To frighten others is not a kind thing to do.
To frighten others is not a kind thing to do.
- "*To frighten* others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a kind thing to do).
- 2Object
She asked me to frighten her little brother.
She asked me to frighten her little brother.
- "Me *to frighten* her little brother" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to frighten* her little brother).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a mask to frighten people at the party.
He needs a mask to frighten people at the party.
- "*To frighten* people at the party" modifies the noun "mask."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a mask *to frighten* people at the party).
Frightening (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Frightening people can have serious consequences.
Frightening people can have serious consequences.
- "*Frightening* people" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (can have) + noun phrase (serious consequences).
- 2Object
She enjoys frightening her friends with scary stories.
She enjoys frightening her friends with scary stories.
- "*Frightening* her friends with scary stories" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
- Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*frightening* her friends with scary stories).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a talent for frightening people.
He has a talent for frightening people.
- "For *frightening* people" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *frightening* people).
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 frighten their friends with a haunted house.
I hope to frighten everyone with my spooky decorations.
We want to frighten our guests with a scary movie night.
She decided to frighten trick-or-treaters by wearing a scary costume.
They agreed to frighten each other during a Halloween prank war.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They avoid frightening others with their pranks.
I am considering frightening my friends at the haunted house.
Experts recommend frightening yourself to overcome fears.
Can you imagine frightening your own reflection in a mirror?
She resisted frightening her younger siblings with scary movies.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
He doesn't like to frighten people with jump scares. He doesn't like frightening people with jump scares.
They started to frighten each other with ghost stories. They started frightening each other with ghost stories.
We began to frighten ourselves by watching horror movies. We began frightening ourselves by watching horror movies.
