When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To illuminate (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to illuminate" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to illuminate the room with bright lights.
Illuminating (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "illuminating" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Illuminating the room with natural light creates a warm ambiance.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To illuminate (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To illuminate is an important task in photography.
To illuminate is an important task in photography.
- "*To illuminate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important task in photography).
- 2Object
She wants me to illuminate the stage for the performance.
She wants me to illuminate the stage for the performance.
- "Me *to illuminate* the stage for the performance" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to illuminate* the stage for the performance).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a lamp to illuminate the dark corner of the room.
We need a lamp to illuminate the dark corner of the room.
- "*To illuminate* the dark corner of the room" modifies the noun "lamp."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a lamp *to illuminate* the dark corner of the room).
Illuminating (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Illuminating is an essential aspect of interior design.
Illuminating is an essential aspect of interior design.
- "*Illuminating*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential aspect of interior design).
- 2Object
I enjoy illuminating my backyard with fairy lights.
I enjoy illuminating my backyard with fairy lights.
- "*Illuminating* my backyard with fairy lights" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*illuminating* my backyard with fairy lights).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a passion for illuminating historical buildings.
She has a passion for illuminating historical buildings.
- "For *illuminating* historical buildings" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *illuminating* historical buildings).
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
They plan to illuminate the garden for the evening party.
I hope to illuminate the pathway with solar lights.
He wants to illuminate the artwork with spotlights.
We decided to illuminate the room with candles.
They agreed to illuminate the building facade with colorful lights.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They enjoy illuminating their living room with different lighting techniques.
Experts recommend illuminating workspaces with bright, natural light.
I dislike the idea of illuminating the entire garden with harsh spotlights.
He avoids illuminating his bedroom with fluorescent lights.
Can you imagine illuminating your backyard with lanterns and candles?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to illuminate her paintings with gallery spotlights. She likes illuminating her paintings with gallery spotlights.
We started to illuminate our patio with string lights. We started illuminating our patio with string lights.
He began to illuminate the room with a chandelier. He began illuminating the room with a chandelier.
