To Frisk vs Frisking 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 frisk (Infinitive)

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

Example

The security guard wants to frisk all the visitors for safety reasons.

Frisking (Gerund)

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

Example

Frisking individuals is a necessary procedure in high-security areas.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To frisk (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To frisk is an important task for security personnel.

  To frisk is an important task for security personnel.

  • "*To frisk*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important task for security personnel).
• 2. Object

  He asked her to frisk the suspicious individual.

  He asked her to frisk the suspicious individual.

  • "Her *to frisk* the suspicious individual" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (her *to frisk* the suspicious individual).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a special tool to frisk the luggage.

  They need a special tool to frisk the luggage.

  • "*To frisk* the luggage" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a special tool *to frisk* the luggage).

Frisking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Frisking people requires proper training and attention to detail.

  Frisking people requires proper training and attention to detail.

  • "*Frisking* people" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (proper training and attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys frisking passengers at the airport.

  He enjoys frisking passengers at the airport.

  • "*Frisking* passengers at the airport" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*frisking* passengers at the airport).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  The officer was caught in the act of frisking the suspect.

  The officer was caught in the act of frisking the suspect.

  • "In the act of *frisking* the suspect" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (The officer) + verb (was caught) + noun phrase (in the act of *frisking* the suspect).

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

• decide
• demand
• attempt
• wish
• pretend

Example

The police officer decided to frisk the suspect for concealed weapons.

The supervisor demanded all employees to frisk themselves before entering the sensitive area.

He attempted to frisk the bag without causing any damage.

I wish to frisk every person who enters the building for added security.

She pretended to frisk the suspect to catch him off guard.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• mind
• imagine

Example

She avoids frisking individuals who are clearly harmless.

Experts recommend thorough training for effective frisking techniques.

We are considering implementing random frisking procedures in our establishment.

Do you mind frisking the bags for prohibited items?

It's hard to imagine someone enjoying frisking others for a living.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to frisk people at concerts for security purposes. They like frisking people at concerts for security purposes.

He started to frisk everyone who entered the building. He started frisking everyone who entered the building.

We began to frisk individuals before allowing them inside. We began frisking individuals before allowing them inside.