To Mangle vs Mangling 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 mangle (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to mangle my favorite shirt in the washing machine.

Mangling (Gerund)

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

Example

Mangling documents can lead to serious legal consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mangle (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mangle delicate fabrics is a common laundry mistake.

  To mangle delicate fabrics is a common laundry mistake.

  • "*To mangle* delicate fabrics" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common laundry mistake).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to mangle her old papers.

  She wants me to mangle her old papers.

  • "Me *to mangle* her old papers" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to mangle* her old papers).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a new pair of scissors to mangle less.

  I need a new pair of scissors to mangle less.

  • "*To mangle* less" modifies the noun "pair of scissors."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a new pair of scissors *to mangle* less).

Mangling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mangling the evidence is a crime in court.

  Mangling the evidence is a crime in court.

  • "*Mangling* the evidence" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crime in court).
• 2. Object

  I regret mangling my speech during the presentation.

  I regret mangling my speech during the presentation.

  • "*Mangling* my speech during the presentation" is the object of the verb "regret."
  • Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*mangling* my speech during the presentation).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are skilled in the art of mangling data.

  They are skilled in the art of mangling data.

  • "The art of *mangling* data" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (the art of *mangling* data).

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
• attempt
• choose
• pretend
• demand

Example

They refuse to mangle their clothes in the dryer.

He attempted to mangle the wires to fix the problem.

She chose to mangle the recipe by adding too much salt.

We pretended to mangle the document to confuse our competitors.

The customer demanded us to mangle the product for a discount.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• postpone
• resist

Example

You should avoid mangling the cables while setting up the system.

She is considering mangling the painting to create a new artwork.

Experts recommend not mangling the original documents.

They postponed mangling the contract until further notice.

He couldn't resist mangling the clay sculpture with his hands.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• stop

Example

I would like to mangle this piece of metal into a unique sculpture. I would like mangling this piece of metal into a unique sculpture.

She began to mangle the fabric with her sewing machine. She began mangling the fabric with her sewing machine.

They must stop to mangle the documents and start organizing them. They must stop mangling the documents and start organizing them.