To Morph vs Morphing 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 morph (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to morph into a butterfly.

Morphing (Gerund)

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

Example

Morphing can create stunning visual effects in movies.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To morph (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To morph is a fascinating transformation process.

  To morph is a fascinating transformation process.

  • "*To morph*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a fascinating transformation process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to morph into a bird.

  She wants me to morph into a bird.

  • "Me *to morph* into a bird" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to morph* into a bird).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a special power to morph my appearance.

  I need a special power to morph my appearance.

  • "*To morph* my appearance" modifies the noun "power."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a special power *to morph* my appearance).

Morphing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Morphing is a technique used in animation.

  Morphing is a technique used in animation.

  • "*Morphing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a technique used in animation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy morphing images to create unique designs.

  I enjoy morphing images to create unique designs.

  • "*Morphing* images to create unique designs" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*morphing* images to create unique designs).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for morphing her voice into different characters.

  She has a talent for morphing her voice into different characters.

  • "For *morphing* her voice into different characters" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *morphing* her voice into different characters).

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 morph into a different character for Halloween.

They hope to morph into successful entrepreneurs.

He wants to morph into a superhero.

We decided to morph into animals for the school play.

They agreed to morph into different shapes for the art project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys morphing videos to create visual illusions.

They recommend learning the art of morphing for digital design.

I dislike the idea of morphing my identity for social media.

He avoids morphing his photos to maintain authenticity.

Can you imagine yourself morphing into different creatures?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to morph her drawings into 3D models. She likes morphing her drawings into 3D models.

We started to morph our website layout for better user experience. We started morphing our website layout for better user experience.

He began to morph his photographs using advanced editing techniques. He began morphing his photographs using advanced editing techniques.