To Mesmerize vs Mesmerizing 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 mesmerize (Infinitive)

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

Example

The magician wants to mesmerize the audience with his tricks.

Mesmerizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Mesmerizing the audience is his specialty.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mesmerize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mesmerize is his ultimate goal as a performer.

  To mesmerize is his ultimate goal as a performer.

  • "*To mesmerize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his ultimate goal as a performer).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to mesmerize her with his storytelling skills.

  She asked him to mesmerize her with his storytelling skills.

  • "Him *to mesmerize* her with his storytelling skills" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to mesmerize* her with his storytelling skills).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a captivating story to mesmerize the audience.

  He needs a captivating story to mesmerize the audience.

  • "*To mesmerize* the audience" modifies the noun "story."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a captivating story *to mesmerize* the audience).

Mesmerizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mesmerizing people is what he loves to do.

  Mesmerizing people is what he loves to do.

  • "*Mesmerizing* people" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (what he loves to do).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy mesmerizing others with my dance performances.

  I enjoy mesmerizing others with my dance performances.

  • "*Mesmerizing* others with my dance performances" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*mesmerizing* others with my dance performances).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for mesmerizing the audience.

  She has a talent for mesmerizing the audience.

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

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 mesmerize the crowd with their synchronized dance routine.

I hope to mesmerize the judges with my singing performance.

She wants to mesmerize everyone with her magic tricks.

We decided to mesmerize the guests with our fireworks display.

They agreed to mesmerize the audience with their acrobatic stunts.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys mesmerizing people with his magic tricks.

They recommend mesmerizing storytelling techniques for captivating an audience.

I dislike the idea of mesmerizing others for personal gain.

She avoids mesmerizing individuals against their will.

Can you imagine yourself mesmerizing a large crowd with your speech?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to mesmerize their fans with their performances. They like mesmerizing their fans with their performances.

He started to mesmerize audiences at a young age. He started mesmerizing audiences at a young age.

She began to mesmerize people with her artwork. She began mesmerizing people with her artwork.