To Gell vs Gelling 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 gell (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to gell the ingredients together to make a delicious dessert.

Gelling (Gerund)

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

Example

Gelling the ingredients creates a smooth and cohesive texture.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To gell (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To gell is an important step in the recipe.

  To gell is an important step in the recipe.

  • "*To gell*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in the recipe).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to gell the mixture.

  She wants me to gell the mixture.

  • "Me *to gell* the mixture" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to gell* the mixture).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a gelatin to gell the dessert.

  I need a gelatin to gell the dessert.

  • "*To gell* the dessert" modifies the noun "gelatin."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a gelatin *to gell* the dessert).

Gelling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Gelling is a common technique used in cooking.

  Gelling is a common technique used in cooking.

  • "*Gelling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common technique used in cooking).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy gelling different flavors together.

  I enjoy gelling different flavors together.

  • "*Gelling* different flavors together" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*gelling* different flavors together).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for gelling ingredients seamlessly.

  She has a knack for gelling ingredients seamlessly.

  • "For *gelling* ingredients seamlessly" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *gelling* ingredients seamlessly).

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

She plans to gell the mixture overnight.

They hope to gell the sauce for the perfect consistency.

He wants to gell the filling before adding the crust.

We decided to gell the mixture for at least 2 hours.

They agreed to gell the ingredients together for a better texture.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

She enjoys gelling various ingredients to create unique dishes.

They recommend gelling the sauce before serving it with the meat.

He avoids gelling certain ingredients due to dietary restrictions.

Can you imagine gelling fruits and herbs for a refreshing dessert?

We are considering gelling the mixture with agar-agar instead of gelatin.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to gell the mixture until it sets. She likes gelling the ingredients until they form a solid mass.

We started to gell the mixture in the refrigerator. We started gelling the ingredients in the refrigerator.

He began to gell the liquid by adding a thickening agent. He began gelling the liquid by adding a thickening agent.