To Misorder vs Misordering 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 misorder (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to misorder my coffee so that it's extra sweet.

Misordering (Gerund)

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

Example

Misordering can lead to confusion in the kitchen.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To misorder (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To misorder is a common mistake at fast food restaurants.

  To misorder is a common mistake at fast food restaurants.

  • "*To misorder*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common mistake at fast food restaurants).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to misorder her meal.

  She wants me to misorder her meal.

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

  I need a special order to misorder my food.

  I need a special order to misorder my food.

  • "*To misorder* my food" modifies the noun "order."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a special order *to misorder* my food).

Misordering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Misordering is a common problem at restaurants.

  Misordering is a common problem at restaurants.

  • "*Misordering*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common problem at restaurants).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy misordering my food sometimes.

  I enjoy misordering my food sometimes.

  • "*Misordering* my food sometimes" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*misordering* my food sometimes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of misordering her drinks.

  She has a habit of misordering her drinks.

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

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

She plans to misorder her sandwich with extra pickles.

They hope to misorder their burger with no onions.

He wants to misorder his drink with extra syrup.

We decided to misorder our pizza with double cheese.

They agreed to misorder their tacos with extra guacamole.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys misordering her dessert to try new flavors.

They recommend avoiding misordering to ensure accuracy.

I dislike the consequences of misordering at restaurants.

He avoids misordering by checking his order carefully.

Can you imagine accidentally misordering your entire meal?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to misorder her food for a change. She likes misordering her food for a change.

We started to misorder our drinks to experiment. We started misordering our drinks to experiment.

He began to misorder his meals for fun. He began misordering his meals for fun.