To Insense vs Insensing 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 insense (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to insense the audience with my powerful performance.

Insensing (Gerund)

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

Example

Insensing the senses is an important aspect of creating art.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To insense (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To insense is a difficult task to accomplish.

  To insense is a difficult task to accomplish.

  • "*To insense*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a difficult task to accomplish).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to insense the crowd during the concert.

  She wants me to insense the crowd during the concert.

  • "Me *to insense* the crowd during the concert" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to insense* the crowd during the concert).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a strong message to insense the audience.

  I need a strong message to insense the audience.

  • "*To insense* the audience" modifies the noun "message."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strong message *to insense* the audience).

Insensing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Insensing the audience is crucial for a successful presentation.

  Insensing the audience is crucial for a successful presentation.

  • "*Insensing* the audience" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for a successful presentation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy insensing the crowd with my speeches.

  I enjoy insensing the crowd with my speeches.

  • "*Insensing* the crowd" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*insensing* the crowd).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for insensing emotions in her paintings.

  She has a talent for insensing emotions in her paintings.

  • "For *insensing* emotions in her paintings" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *insensing* emotions in her paintings).

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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to insense the viewers with her artwork.

They hope to insense the readers with their writing.

He wants to insense the listeners with his music.

We decided to insense the audience with our dance performance.

They agreed to insense the viewers with their film.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys insensing the audience with her acting skills.

They recommend insensing the viewers with captivating visuals.

I dislike the idea of insensing people's fears.

He avoids insensing negative emotions in his photographs.

Can you imagine yourself insensing the audience with your poetry?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to insense the readers with her stories. She likes insensing the readers with her stories.

We started to insense the listeners with our music. We started insensing the listeners with our music.

He began to insense the viewers with his artwork. He began insensing the viewers with his artwork.