When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To imitate (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to imitate" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to imitate his style of painting.
Imitating (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "imitating" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Imitating others can be a form of flattery.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To imitate (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To imitate is a common way to learn.
To imitate is a common way to learn.
- "*To imitate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a common way to learn).
- 2Object
She wants me to imitate her dance moves.
She wants me to imitate her dance moves.
- "Me *to imitate* her dance moves" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to imitate* her dance moves).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a good model to imitate.
He needs a good model to imitate.
- "*To imitate*" modifies the noun "model."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a good model *to imitate*).
Imitating (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Imitating their behavior is not acceptable.
Imitating their behavior is not acceptable.
- "*Imitating*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not acceptable).
- 2Object
I enjoy imitating different accents.
I enjoy imitating different accents.
- "*Imitating* different accents" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*imitating* different accents).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for imitating animal sounds.
She has a talent for imitating animal sounds.
- "For *imitating* animal sounds" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *imitating* animal sounds).
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 choose to imitate the best players in the game.
I hope to imitate his success in my own career.
We decided to imitate the style of the famous artist.
She wants to imitate his singing voice.
He pretends to imitate his favorite actor in front of the mirror.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They enjoy imitating famous celebrities.
He avoids imitating others and prefers to be unique.
We are considering imitating their marketing strategy.
Experts recommend imitating successful people.
I don't mind imitating their fashion style.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to imitate the movements of her favorite dancer. She likes imitating the movements of her favorite dancer.
He started to imitate the actions of his role model. He started imitating the actions of his role model.
We began to imitate the techniques of the master painter. We began imitating the techniques of the master painter.
