To Mumble vs Mumbling 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 mumble (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to mumble my speech to create a mysterious effect.

Mumbling (Gerund)

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

Example

Mumbling can make it difficult for others to understand you.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mumble (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mumble is not an effective way of communication.

  To mumble is not an effective way of communication.

  • "*To mumble*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not an effective way of communication).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to mumble my answer.

  She wants me to mumble my answer.

  • "Me *to mumble* my answer" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to mumble* my answer).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a microphone to mumble into.

  I need a microphone to mumble into.

  • "*To mumble* into" modifies the noun "microphone."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a microphone *to mumble* into).

Mumbling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mumbling is a bad habit that should be avoided.

  Mumbling is a bad habit that should be avoided.

  • "*Mumbling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a bad habit that should be avoided).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy mumbling to myself when I'm alone.

  I enjoy mumbling to myself when I'm alone.

  • "*Mumbling* to myself when I'm alone" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*mumbling* to myself when I'm alone).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of mumbling during meetings.

  She has a habit of mumbling during meetings.

  • "Of *mumbling* during meetings" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *mumbling* during meetings).

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

• hope
• refuse
• attempt
• pretend
• choose

Example

They hope to mumble their secret plans.

He refuses to mumble the password.

We attempted to mumble our way out of trouble.

She pretends to mumble when she doesn't want to answer.

They chose to mumble instead of speaking clearly.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• postpone
• imagine

Example

He avoids mumbling in public places.

They recommend mumbling practice for actors.

I am considering mumbling my thoughts aloud.

Let's postpone mumbling about this until later.

Can you imagine mumbling your way through a speech?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to mumble when she's nervous. She likes mumbling when she's nervous.

We started to mumble under our breath. We started mumbling under our breath.

He began to mumble his lines on stage. He began mumbling his lines on stage.