When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To loathe (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to loathe" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I refuse to loathe anyone based on their appearance.
Loathing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "loathing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Loathing can consume a person's thoughts.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To loathe (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To loathe is a strong emotion.
To loathe is a strong emotion.
- "*To loathe*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a strong emotion).
- 2Object
She wants me to loathe him for his actions.
She wants me to loathe him for his actions.
- "Me *to loathe* him for his actions" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to loathe* him for his actions).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a reason to loathe her.
He needs a reason to loathe her.
- "*To loathe* her" modifies the noun "reason."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to loathe* her).
Loathing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Loathing is a negative emotion.
Loathing is a negative emotion.
- "*Loathing*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a negative emotion).
- 2Object
He enjoys the feeling of loathing his enemies.
He enjoys the feeling of loathing his enemies.
- "The feeling of *loathing* his enemies" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
- Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (the feeling of *loathing* his enemies).
- 3Object of Preposition
They have no tolerance for loathing others.
They have no tolerance for loathing others.
- "For *loathing* others" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (no tolerance for *loathing* others).
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
We decided to loathe the taste and never eat it again.
He attempted to loathe his bad habits.
They refused to loathe each other despite their differences.
I wish to loathe public speaking, but I need to overcome my fear.
She pretends to loathe chocolate, but secretly she loves it.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She avoids loathing herself for past mistakes.
He is considering loathing his job and finding a new one.
They recommend loathing unhealthy food for better health.
I couldn't resist loathing the rude behavior.
Can you understand loathing someone for their actions?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to loathe people who mistreat animals. She likes loathing people who mistreat animals.
We started to loathe each other after that argument. We started loathing each other after that argument.
He began to loathe the taste of coffee. He began loathing the taste of coffee.
