To Implicate vs Implicating 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 implicate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to implicate myself in the crime.

Implicating (Gerund)

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

Example

Implicating others without evidence is unjust.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To implicate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To implicate others is not fair.

  To implicate others is not fair.

  • "*To implicate* others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (not fair).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to implicate him in the scandal.

  She wants me to implicate him in the scandal.

  • "Me *to implicate* him in the scandal" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to implicate* him in the scandal).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need evidence to implicate the suspect.

  They need evidence to implicate the suspect.

  • "*To implicate* the suspect" modifies the noun "evidence."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (evidence *to implicate* the suspect).

Implicating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Implicating innocent people is a serious offense.

  Implicating innocent people is a serious offense.

  • "*Implicating* innocent people" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious offense).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys implicating others in his schemes.

  He enjoys implicating others in his schemes.

  • "*Implicating* others in his schemes" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*implicating* others in his schemes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  We are considering the possibility of implicating more suspects.

  We are considering the possibility of implicating more suspects.

  • "Of *implicating* more suspects" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (We) + verb (are considering) + noun phrase (the possibility of *implicating* more suspects).

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
• deny
• demand
• pretend
• struggle

Example

He refuses to implicate his friends in the crime.

She denies to implicate anyone in the incident.

They demand him to implicate his accomplices.

I pretend to implicate myself to throw off suspicion.

We struggle to implicate the real culprit.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• avoid
• mind
• recommend
• risk

Example

They are considering implicating him in the crime.

She avoids implicating herself in any wrongdoing.

I don't mind implicating myself if it helps solve the case.

Experts recommend against implicating innocent people.

He risks implicating himself by revealing the truth.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to implicate the real mastermind. I would like implicating the real mastermind.

She started to implicate her colleagues in the conspiracy. She started implicating her colleagues in the conspiracy.

We began to implicate key witnesses. We began implicating key witnesses.