When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To moisturize (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to moisturize" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I need to moisturize my skin daily to keep it hydrated.
Moisturizing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "moisturizing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Moisturizing helps to prevent dryness and flakiness of the skin.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To moisturize (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To moisturize is important for maintaining healthy skin.
To moisturize is important for maintaining healthy skin.
- "*To moisturize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for maintaining healthy skin).
- 2Object
She wants me to moisturize her face with a good moisturizer.
She wants me to moisturize her face with a good moisturizer.
- "Me *to moisturize* her face with a good moisturizer" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to moisturize* her face with a good moisturizer).
- 3Adverb Modifier
He uses a special cream to moisturize his dry hands.
He uses a special cream to moisturize his dry hands.
- "*To moisturize* his dry hands" modifies the noun "cream."
- Noun (He) + verb (uses) + noun phrase (a special cream *to moisturize* his dry hands).
Moisturizing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Moisturizing is an essential step in skincare routine.
Moisturizing is an essential step in skincare routine.
- "*Moisturizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential step in skincare routine).
- 2Object
I enjoy moisturizing my face with a hydrating lotion.
I enjoy moisturizing my face with a hydrating lotion.
- "*Moisturizing* my face with a hydrating lotion" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*moisturizing* my face with a hydrating lotion).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a preference for moisturizing her body with oils.
She has a preference for moisturizing her body with oils.
- "For *moisturizing* her body with oils" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a preference for *moisturizing* her body with oils).
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
Example
She plans to moisturize her face before going to bed.
They hope to moisturize their skin with natural products.
He wants to moisturize his body after taking a shower.
We decided to moisturize our hands with aloe vera gel.
They agreed to moisturize their face twice a day.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys moisturizing her hands with a scented cream.
They recommend regular moisturizing for soft and supple skin.
I dislike the feeling of moisturizing my face with heavy creams.
He avoids moisturizing his skin with products containing harsh chemicals.
Can you imagine yourself moisturizing your skin with natural oils?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to moisturize her body with aloe vera gel. She likes moisturizing her body with aloe vera gel.
We started to moisturize our face every night. We started moisturizing our face every night.
He began to moisturize his hands regularly. He began moisturizing his hands regularly.
