When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To front (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to front" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to front the band and be the lead singer.
Fronting (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "fronting" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Fronting the band is an exciting opportunity.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To front (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To front the team requires a lot of leadership skills.
To front the team requires a lot of leadership skills.
- "*To front* the team" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of leadership skills).
- 2Object
They asked me to front the project.
They asked me to front the project.
- "Me *to front* the project" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to front* the project).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a charismatic personality to front the company.
He needs a charismatic personality to front the company.
- "*To front* the company" modifies the noun "personality."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a charismatic personality *to front* the company).
Fronting (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Fronting the team requires strong communication skills.
Fronting the team requires strong communication skills.
- "*Fronting* the team" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (strong communication skills).
- 2Object
I enjoy fronting the show.
I enjoy fronting the show.
- "*Fronting* the show" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*fronting* the show).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for fronting bands.
She has a talent for fronting bands.
- "For *fronting* bands" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *fronting* bands).
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
She plans to front the event next month.
They hope to front the new campaign.
He wants to front the project.
We decided to front the initiative.
They agreed to front the organization together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys fronting the concert every night.
They recommend fronting the event for maximum impact.
I dislike the idea of fronting a crowd.
He avoids fronting large gatherings.
Can you imagine yourself fronting a famous band?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to front the band on stage. She likes fronting the band on stage.
We started to front the company together. We started fronting the company together.
He began to front the team last year. He began fronting the team last year.
