To Louden vs Loudening 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 louden (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to louden the music for the party.

Loudening (Gerund)

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

Example

Loudening the music will create a lively atmosphere.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To louden (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To louden the music is unnecessary in this small room.

  To louden the music is unnecessary in this small room.

  • "*To louden* the music" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (unnecessary).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to louden the volume of the speakers.

  She wants me to louden the volume of the speakers.

  • "Me *to louden* the volume of the speakers" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to louden* the volume of the speakers).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a microphone to louden our voices.

  We need a microphone to louden our voices.

  • "*To louden* our voices" modifies the noun "microphone."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a microphone *to louden* our voices).

Loudening (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Loudening the music is not necessary for this event.

  Loudening the music is not necessary for this event.

  • "*Loudening* the music" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not necessary).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy loudening the sound of my guitar.

  I enjoy loudening the sound of my guitar.

  • "*Loudening* the sound of my guitar" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*loudening* the sound of my guitar).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a talent for loudening their voices.

  They have a talent for loudening their voices.

  • "For *loudening* their voices" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a talent for *loudening* their voices).

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 louden the music for the event.

He hopes to louden his voice during the presentation.

She wants to louden the sound effects in the movie.

I decided to louden the music for the dance performance.

We agreed to louden the volume for the concert.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys loudening the music at parties.

Experts recommend avoiding loudening the volume to protect your hearing.

I dislike the idea of loudening the noise in public places.

He avoids loudening the sound when others are sleeping.

Can you imagine yourself loudening the music at a concert?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to louden the music during his workouts. He likes loudening the music during his workouts.

They started to louden the volume for the performance. They started loudening the volume for the performance.

She began to louden the sound system for the event. She began loudening the sound system for the event.