When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To hail (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to hail" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to hail a taxi to get to the airport.
Hailing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "hailing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Hailing a taxi on a busy street can be difficult.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To hail (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To hail a cab in New York City can be challenging.
To hail a cab in New York City can be challenging.
- "*To hail* a cab in New York City" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective (challenging).
- 2Object
She wants me to hail a ride for her.
She wants me to hail a ride for her.
- "Me *to hail* a ride for her" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to hail* a ride for her).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need an umbrella to hail a taxi in the rain.
I need an umbrella to hail a taxi in the rain.
- "*To hail* a taxi in the rain" modifies the noun "umbrella."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (an umbrella *to hail* a taxi in the rain).
Hailing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Hailing a cab requires patience.
Hailing a cab requires patience.
- "*Hailing* a cab" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun (patience).
- 2Object
I enjoy hailing taxis in big cities.
I enjoy hailing taxis in big cities.
- "*Hailing* taxis in big cities" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*hailing* taxis in big cities).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a knack for hailing cabs quickly.
She has a knack for hailing cabs quickly.
- "For *hailing* cabs quickly" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *hailing* cabs quickly).
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
He plans to hail a taxi tomorrow morning.
They hope to hail a cab during rush hour.
She wants to hail a ride from the airport.
We decided to hail a taxi instead of taking the bus.
They agreed to hail a cab together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys hailing taxis in the rain.
They recommend hailing a ride-sharing service for convenience.
I avoid hailing taxis during peak hours.
Can you imagine yourself hailing a cab in a foreign country?
Do you mind hailing a cab for me?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to hail a taxi in busy areas. She likes hailing taxis in busy areas.
We started to hail rideshare services. We started hailing rideshare services.
He began to hail taxis instead of using public transportation. He began hailing taxis instead of using public transportation.
