To Ladle vs Ladling 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 ladle (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to ladle the soup into bowls.

Ladling (Gerund)

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

Example

Ladling requires precision and control.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To ladle (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To ladle is an important skill in cooking.

  To ladle is an important skill in cooking.

  • "*To ladle*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important skill in cooking).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to ladle the sauce onto the pasta.

  She wants me to ladle the sauce onto the pasta.

  • "Me *to ladle* the sauce onto the pasta" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to ladle* the sauce onto the pasta).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a large ladle to ladle the soup into bowls.

  We need a large ladle to ladle the soup into bowls.

  • "*To ladle* the soup into bowls" modifies the noun "ladle."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a large ladle *to ladle* the soup into bowls).

Ladling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Ladling is an essential step in soup-making.

  Ladling is an essential step in soup-making.

  • "*Ladling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential step in soup-making).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy ladling the sauce onto the pizza.

  I enjoy ladling the sauce onto the pizza.

  • "*Ladling* the sauce onto the pizza" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*ladling* the sauce onto the pizza).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for ladling.

  She has a talent for ladling.

  • "For *ladling*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *ladling*).

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

They plan to ladle the gravy onto the mashed potatoes.

He hopes to ladle the sauce over the pasta perfectly.

She wants to ladle the soup into individual bowls.

I decided to ladle the stew into serving bowls.

We agreed to ladle the batter onto the griddle.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

He enjoys ladling the soup into bowls.

They recommend practicing ladling techniques for better accuracy.

I avoid ladling hot liquids without proper protection.

Can you imagine yourself ladling the sauce onto the pasta?

She is considering ladling the gravy onto the turkey.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to ladle the gravy onto my mashed potatoes. I like ladling the gravy onto my mashed potatoes.

We started to ladle the soup into bowls. We started ladling the soup into bowls.

He began to ladle the sauce onto the pasta. He began ladling the sauce onto the pasta.