To Outrail vs Outrailing 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 outrail (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to outrail my opponents in the race.

Outrailing (Gerund)

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

Example

Outrailing the competition gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To outrail (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To outrail requires great endurance and speed.

  To outrail requires great endurance and speed.

  • "*To outrail*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (great endurance and speed).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to outrail her competitors.

  She wants me to outrail her competitors.

  • "Me *to outrail* her competitors" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to outrail* her competitors).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a faster horse to outrail my opponents.

  I need a faster horse to outrail my opponents.

  • "*To outrail* my opponents" modifies the noun "horse."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a faster horse *to outrail* my opponents).

Outrailing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Outrailing requires consistent practice and dedication.

  Outrailing requires consistent practice and dedication.

  • "*Outrailing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (consistent practice and dedication).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy outrailing my opponents in every race.

  I enjoy outrailing my opponents in every race.

  • "*Outrailing* my opponents" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*outrailing* my opponents).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for outrailing her competitors.

  She has a talent for outrailing her competitors.

  • "For *outrailing*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *outrailing* her competitors).

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
• decide
• want
• attempt
• struggle

Example

They hope to outrail their rivals in the upcoming race.

We decided to outrail the competition by training harder.

He wants to outrail all the other runners in the marathon.

She attempted to outrail her own personal best record.

They struggled to outrail the leading cyclist in the race.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

She enjoys outrailing others in any kind of race.

They recommend regular outrailing for improving running skills.

I avoid outrailing my teammates during practice sessions.

Can you imagine yourself outrailing professional athletes?

He considers outrailing as his greatest achievement.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to outrail her opponents in every race. She likes outrailing her opponents in every race.

We started to outrail our competitors at a young age. We started outrailing our competitors at a young age.

He began to outrail his rivals in high school. He began outrailing his rivals in high school.