To Moralize vs Moralizing 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 moralize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to moralize about other people's choices.

Moralizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Moralizing can come across as judgmental.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To moralize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To moralize is not always helpful in resolving conflicts.

  To moralize is not always helpful in resolving conflicts.

  • "*To moralize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adverb (not) + adjective (always helpful) + prepositional phrase (in resolving conflicts).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to moralize about her decision.

  She wants me to moralize about her decision.

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

  I need a book to moralize the story.

  I need a book to moralize the story.

  • "*To moralize* the story" modifies the noun "book."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a book *to moralize* the story).

Moralizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Moralizing often leads to strained relationships.

  Moralizing often leads to strained relationships.

  • "*Moralizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + adverb (often) + verb (leads) + prepositional phrase (to strained relationships).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy moralizing about the characters in books.

  I enjoy moralizing about the characters in books.

  • "*Moralizing* about the characters in books" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*moralizing* about the characters in books).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for moralizing about current events.

  She has a talent for moralizing about current events.

  • "For *moralizing* about current events" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *moralizing* about current events).

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
• choose
• manage
• struggle

Example

We decided to moralize on the issue at hand.

He pretends to moralize when he's really judging.

They chose to moralize rather than empathize.

She managed to moralize without sounding preachy.

I struggle to moralize about the choices of others.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• mind
• postpone
• deny

Example

He avoids moralizing in conversations to maintain harmony.

They consider moralizing a form of superiority.

I don't mind moralizing if it helps someone reflect.

Let's postpone moralizing until we have all the facts.

She denies moralizing about other people's lifestyles.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to moralize about the behavior of others. He likes moralizing about the behavior of others.

We started to moralize after witnessing the injustice. We started moralizing after witnessing the injustice.

She began to moralize about societal issues. She began moralizing about societal issues.