When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To impersonate (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to impersonate" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to impersonate my favorite actor for Halloween.
Impersonating (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "impersonating" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Impersonating celebrities is a common form of entertainment.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To impersonate (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To impersonate someone famous requires a lot of practice.
To impersonate someone famous requires a lot of practice.
- "*To impersonate* someone famous" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of practice).
- 2Object
She wants me to impersonate a celebrity at the party.
She wants me to impersonate a celebrity at the party.
- "Me *to impersonate* a celebrity at the party" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to impersonate* a celebrity at the party).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a costume to impersonate my favorite character.
I need a costume to impersonate my favorite character.
- "*To impersonate* my favorite character" modifies the noun "costume."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a costume *to impersonate* my favorite character).
Impersonating (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Impersonating famous people requires talent and practice.
Impersonating famous people requires talent and practice.
- "*Impersonating* famous people" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (talent and practice).
- 2Object
I enjoy impersonating different characters at parties.
I enjoy impersonating different characters at parties.
- "*Impersonating* different characters at parties" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*impersonating* different characters at parties).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for impersonating famous personalities.
She has a talent for impersonating famous personalities.
- "For *impersonating* famous personalities" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *impersonating* famous personalities).
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
She plans to impersonate a historical figure for her presentation.
They hope to impersonate their favorite musicians at the talent show.
He wants to impersonate a superhero for the costume party.
We decided to impersonate famous actors for our school play.
They agreed to impersonate characters from a popular TV show for the cosplay event.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys impersonating politicians during political debates.
They recommend practicing impersonating different accents for acting auditions.
I dislike the idea of impersonating someone without their consent.
He avoids impersonating controversial figures to prevent backlash.
Can you imagine yourself impersonating a famous singer on stage?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to impersonate famous celebrities for fun. She likes impersonating famous celebrities for fun.
We started to impersonate well-known characters at comic conventions. We started impersonating well-known characters at comic conventions.
He began to impersonate his favorite actors in school plays. He began impersonating his favorite actors in school plays.
