To Masticate vs Masticating 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 masticate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to masticate my food thoroughly for better digestion.

Masticating (Gerund)

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

Example

Masticating your food well can lead to better nutrient absorption.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To masticate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To masticate is an important part of the digestive process.

  To masticate is an important part of the digestive process.

  • "*To masticate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of the digestive process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to masticate my food properly.

  She wants me to masticate my food properly.

  • "Me *to masticate* my food properly" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to masticate* my food properly).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a good set of teeth to masticate tough foods.

  I need a good set of teeth to masticate tough foods.

  • "*To masticate* tough foods" modifies the noun "set of teeth."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a good set of teeth *to masticate* tough foods).

Masticating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Masticating food thoroughly aids in proper digestion.

  Masticating food thoroughly aids in proper digestion.

  • "*Masticating* food thoroughly" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (aids) + noun phrase (in proper digestion).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy masticating my food slowly.

  I enjoy masticating my food slowly.

  • "*Masticating* my food slowly" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*masticating* my food slowly).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of masticating her food thoroughly.

  She has a habit of masticating her food thoroughly.

  • "Of *masticating* her food thoroughly" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *masticating* her food thoroughly).

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

He plans to masticate his food slowly and mindfully.

They hope to masticate their meals more consciously.

I want to masticate each bite thoroughly.

We decided to masticate our food for at least 20 chews per bite.

They agreed to masticate their food slowly and enjoy each bite.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys masticating crunchy snacks.

Doctors recommend masticating food properly for better digestion.

I dislike the idea of masticating tough meat.

She avoids masticating hard candies.

Can you imagine yourself masticating your food 30 times per bite?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to masticate their food slowly. They like masticating their food slowly.

I started to masticate my food more mindfully. I started masticating my food more mindfully.

We began to masticate each bite thoroughly. We began masticating each bite thoroughly.