To Huff vs Huffing 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 huff (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to huff and puff to blow the house down.

Huffing (Gerund)

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

Example

Huffing and puffing is not going to solve the problem.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To huff (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To huff is not a productive way to handle frustration.

  To huff is not a productive way to handle frustration.

  • "*To huff*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a productive way to handle frustration).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to huff and puff to blow the balloons.

  He wants me to huff and puff to blow the balloons.

  • "Me *to huff* and puff to blow the balloons" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to huff* and puff to blow the balloons).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a strong wind to huff and puff to make the windmill spin.

  I need a strong wind to huff and puff to make the windmill spin.

  • "*To huff* and puff to make the windmill spin" modifies the noun "wind."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strong wind *to huff* and puff to make the windmill spin).

Huffing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Huffing and puffing can be a sign of anger or frustration.

  Huffing and puffing can be a sign of anger or frustration.

  • "*Huffing* and puffing" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + noun phrase (a sign of anger or frustration).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy huffing and puffing while jogging.

  I enjoy huffing and puffing while jogging.

  • "*Huffing* and puffing while jogging" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*huffing* and puffing while jogging).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of huffing and puffing during stressful situations.

  She has a habit of huffing and puffing during stressful situations.

  • "Of *huffing* and puffing during stressful situations" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *huffing* and puffing during stressful situations).

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
• attempt
• pretend
• choose
• demand

Example

They refuse to huff and puff in the competition.

She attempted to huff and puff but failed to blow the candles.

He pretends to huff and puff like a big bad wolf.

We choose to huff and puff with all our might.

The coach demands us to huff and puff during training sessions.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• resist

Example

He avoids huffing and puffing when he is upset.

They consider huffing and puffing to be a waste of energy.

I recommend taking deep breaths instead of huffing and puffing.

Do you mind me huffing and puffing during my workout?

She resists huffing and puffing when dealing with difficult situations.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to huff and puff while blowing bubbles. They like huffing and puffing while blowing bubbles.

He started to huff and puff in order to calm himself down. He started huffing and puffing in order to calm himself down.

She began to huff and puff as a way to release stress. She began huffing and puffing as a way to release stress.