To Glare vs Glaring 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 glare (Infinitive)

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

Example

She refused to glare at him in anger.

Glaring (Gerund)

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

Example

Glaring at someone can be seen as a sign of hostility.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To glare (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To glare is considered rude in some cultures.

  To glare is considered rude in some cultures.

  • "*To glare*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (considered rude in some cultures).
• 2. Object

  He wants her to glare at the person who offended him.

  He wants her to glare at the person who offended him.

  • "Her *to glare* at the person who offended him" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (her *to glare* at the person who offended him).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a pair of sunglasses to glare at the bright sunlight.

  I need a pair of sunglasses to glare at the bright sunlight.

  • "*To glare* at the bright sunlight" modifies the noun "pair of sunglasses."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a pair of sunglasses *to glare* at the bright sunlight).

Glaring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Glaring is impolite in most social situations.

  Glaring is impolite in most social situations.

  • "*Glaring*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (impolite in most social situations).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy glaring at my siblings when they annoy me.

  I enjoy glaring at my siblings when they annoy me.

  • "*Glaring* at my siblings when they annoy me" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*glaring* at my siblings when they annoy me).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She received a warning for glaring at her boss.

  She received a warning for glaring at her boss.

  • "For *glaring* at her boss" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (received) + noun phrase (a warning for *glaring* at her boss).

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

• refuse
• decide
• attempt
• pretend
• choose

Example

They refused to glare at each other during the argument.

We decided to glare at the rude customer.

He attempted to glare at them menacingly.

She pretended to glare at him to scare him off.

They chose to glare at the teacher when she scolded them.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• mind
• consider
• imagine
• resist

Example

He avoids glaring at people in public places.

Do you mind me glaring at you during the meeting?

They consider glaring as a form of aggression.

Can you imagine someone glaring at you for no reason?

I couldn't resist glaring back at him when he insulted me.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to glare at him when he annoys her. She likes glaring at him when he annoys her.

We started to glare at each other in frustration. We started glaring at each other in frustration.

He began to glare at them with a fierce look. He began glaring at them with a fierce look.