When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To mow (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to mow" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to mow the lawn to keep it neat and tidy.
Mowing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "mowing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Mowing the lawn is a chore that needs to be done regularly.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To mow (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To mow the lawn requires a lot of physical effort.
To mow the lawn requires a lot of physical effort.
- "*To mow* the lawn" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of physical effort).
- 2Object
She wants me to mow the grass.
She wants me to mow the grass.
- "Me *to mow* the grass" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to mow* the grass).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a new lawnmower to mow the large yard.
I need a new lawnmower to mow the large yard.
- "*To mow* the large yard" modifies the noun "lawnmower."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a new lawnmower *to mow* the large yard).
Mowing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Mowing the lawn takes up a significant amount of time.
Mowing the lawn takes up a significant amount of time.
- "*Mowing* the lawn" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (takes up) + noun phrase (a significant amount of time).
- 2Object
I enjoy mowing the grass in the morning.
I enjoy mowing the grass in the morning.
- "*Mowing* the grass in the morning" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*mowing* the grass in the morning).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a passion for mowing lawns.
He has a passion for mowing lawns.
- "For *mowing* lawns" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *mowing* lawns).
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
He plans to mow the lawn this weekend.
They hope to mow the field before it rains.
She wants to mow the grass on her own.
We decided to mow the front yard first.
They agreed to mow the neighbor's lawn together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys mowing the lawn on sunny days.
They recommend regular mowing for a healthy lawn.
I dislike the task of mowing the lawn in the heat.
He avoids mowing the grass during allergy season.
Can you imagine yourself mowing a large field?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
He likes to mow the lawn in the evening. He likes mowing the lawn in the evening.
We started to mow our own lawn. We started mowing our own lawn.
She began to mow the grass every weekend. She began mowing the grass every weekend.
