To Misgive vs Misgiving 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 misgive (Infinitive)

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

Example

I hope to misgive you some advice about your decision.

Misgiving (Gerund)

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

Example

Misgiving is a natural response to uncertainty.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To misgive (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To misgive is a common feeling when facing uncertainty.

  To misgive is a common feeling when facing uncertainty.

  • "*To misgive*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common feeling when facing uncertainty).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to misgive my opinion on the matter.

  She wants me to misgive my opinion on the matter.

  • "Me *to misgive* my opinion on the matter" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to misgive* my opinion on the matter).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a reason to misgive my trust in him.

  I need a reason to misgive my trust in him.

  • "*To misgive* my trust in him" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reason *to misgive* my trust in him).

Misgiving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Misgiving often arises when making important decisions.

  Misgiving often arises when making important decisions.

  • "*Misgiving*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (often arises) + noun phrase (when making important decisions).
• 2. Object

  I have a fear of misgiving my trust to others.

  I have a fear of misgiving my trust to others.

  • "A fear of *misgiving* my trust to others" is the object of the verb "have."
  • Noun (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a fear of *misgiving* my trust to others).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has doubts about misgiving her decision.

  She has doubts about misgiving her decision.

  • "About *misgiving* her decision" is the object of the preposition "about."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (doubts about *misgiving* her decision).

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

• decide
• pretend
• attempt
• choose
• demand

Example

We decided to misgive our support to the project.

He pretended to misgive his involvement in the incident.

They attempted to misgive their true intentions.

She chose to misgive her real identity.

The protesters demanded to misgive the government's actions.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• postpone
• recommend
• resist
• understand

Example

He is considering misgiving his support to the proposal.

They postponed misgiving a final answer until further discussion.

I recommend misgiving any investment without proper research.

She resisted misgiving in to peer pressure.

I can understand misgiving your decision in such circumstances.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They don't like to misgive their trust easily. They don't like misgiving their trust easily.

She started to misgive her feelings for him. She started misgiving her feelings for him.

He began to misgive his loyalty to the company. He began misgiving his loyalty to the company.