When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To mushroom (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to mushroom" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
The demand for organic food has caused the industry to mushroom in recent years.
Mushrooming (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "mushrooming" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
The trend of organic farming is mushrooming in popularity.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To mushroom (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To mushroom is a natural process that occurs in certain conditions.
To mushroom is a natural process that occurs in certain conditions.
- "*To mushroom*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural process that occurs in certain conditions).
- 2Object
She expects her business to mushroom after the new product launch.
She expects her business to mushroom after the new product launch.
- "Her business *to mushroom* after the new product launch" is the object of the verb "expects."
- Noun (She) + verb (expects) + noun phrase (her business *to mushroom* after the new product launch).
- 3Adjective Modifier
They need a bigger facility to mushroom their operations.
They need a bigger facility to mushroom their operations.
- "*To mushroom* their operations" modifies the noun "facility."
- Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a bigger facility *to mushroom* their operations).
Mushrooming (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Mushrooming requires careful planning and execution.
Mushrooming requires careful planning and execution.
- "*Mushrooming*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning and execution).
- 2Object
I enjoy mushrooming my knowledge about different cultures.
I enjoy mushrooming my knowledge about different cultures.
- "*Mushrooming* my knowledge about different cultures" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*mushrooming* my knowledge about different cultures).
- 3Object of Preposition
They have a passion for mushrooming their business.
They have a passion for mushrooming their business.
- "For *mushrooming* their business" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a passion for *mushrooming* their business).
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
They plan to mushroom their business by expanding into new markets.
He hopes to mushroom his savings by investing in stocks.
She wants to mushroom her career by taking on more responsibilities.
We decided to mushroom our online presence through social media marketing.
They agreed to mushroom their collaboration to reach a wider audience.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys mushrooming her collection of rare books.
Experts recommend mushrooming your savings for long-term financial security.
I dislike the idea of mushrooming my workload.
He avoids mushrooming conflicts by maintaining open communication.
Can you imagine yourself mushrooming your business into a global brand?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to mushroom her garden with different varieties of mushrooms. She likes mushrooming in the forest to find rare species.
They started to mushroom their business after securing funding. They started mushrooming their business by offering unique products.
He began to mushroom his photography skills by attending workshops. He began mushrooming his network by joining photography clubs.
