To Offend vs Offending 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 offend (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to offend anyone with my comments.

Offending (Gerund)

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

Example

Offending others can have serious consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To offend (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To offend is not my intention.

  To offend is not my intention.

  • "*To offend*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not my intention).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't like me to offend her.

  She doesn't like me to offend her.

  • "Me *to offend* her" is the object of the verb "doesn't like."
  • Noun (She) + verb (doesn't like) + noun phrase (me *to offend* her).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a filter to offend fewer people.

  I need a filter to offend fewer people.

  • "*To offend* fewer people" modifies the noun "filter."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a filter *to offend* fewer people).

Offending (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Offending others is not acceptable behavior.

  Offending others is not acceptable behavior.

  • "*Offending* others" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not acceptable behavior).
• 2. Object

  I regret offending her with my words.

  I regret offending her with my words.

  • "*Offending* her with my words" is the object of the verb "regret."
  • Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*offending* her with my words).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He apologized for offending his colleagues.

  He apologized for offending his colleagues.

  • "For *offending* his colleagues" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (apologized) + preposition (for) + gerund (*offending* his colleagues).

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
• want
• refuse
• pretend
• demand

Example

He decided to offend no one with his speech.

We want to offend as few people as possible.

They refuse to offend their customers with poor service.

She pretends to offend others for attention.

He demands to offend nobody with his jokes.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• imagine

Example

They avoid offending others by being considerate.

Experts recommend not offending your audience when giving a speech.

I don't mind offending people if it means standing up for what I believe in.

She is considering offending her boss by speaking her mind.

Can you imagine offending your best friend by forgetting their birthday?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to offend people with my jokes. I don't like offending people with my jokes.

He started to offend others with his rude behavior. He started offending others with his rude behavior.

She began to offend her coworkers with her sarcastic remarks. She began offending her coworkers with her sarcastic remarks.