To Overbuild vs Overbuilding 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 overbuild (Infinitive)

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

Example

The company decided to overbuild in order to meet the high demand.

Overbuilding (Gerund)

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

Example

Overbuilding can lead to an oversaturated market.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To overbuild (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To overbuild is not a sustainable practice in the long run.

  To overbuild is not a sustainable practice in the long run.

  • "*To overbuild*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a sustainable practice in the long run).
• 2. Object

  They want us to overbuild the entire neighborhood.

  They want us to overbuild the entire neighborhood.

  • "Us *to overbuild* the entire neighborhood" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to overbuild* the entire neighborhood).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a bigger team to overbuild our current capacity.

  We need a bigger team to overbuild our current capacity.

  • "*To overbuild* our current capacity" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a bigger team *to overbuild* our current capacity).

Overbuilding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Overbuilding has caused a surplus of housing in the city.

  Overbuilding has caused a surplus of housing in the city.

  • "*Overbuilding*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (has caused) + noun phrase (a surplus of housing in the city).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys overbuilding model cities with LEGO blocks.

  She enjoys overbuilding model cities with LEGO blocks.

  • "*Overbuilding* model cities with LEGO blocks" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*overbuilding* model cities with LEGO blocks).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are in favor of overbuilding in urban areas.

  They are in favor of overbuilding in urban areas.

  • "*Overbuilding* in urban areas" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are in favor of) + noun phrase (*overbuilding* in urban areas).

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

• plan
• demand
• refuse
• attempt
• struggle

Example

They plan to overbuild their production facilities next year.

Customers demand the company to overbuild their product inventory.

He refused to overbuild despite the pressure from his competitors.

We attempted to overbuild the project, but faced many challenges.

The company struggles to overbuild without compromising quality.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• postpone
• resist

Example

Investors should avoid overbuilding in an already saturated market.

The city council is considering overbuilding to accommodate population growth.

Experts recommend against overbuilding in fragile ecosystems.

The construction project was postponed to prevent overbuilding.

He resisted the temptation of overbuilding despite the potential profits.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to overbuild my portfolio with diverse investments. I would like overbuilding my portfolio with diverse investments.

They started to overbuild after acquiring more funding. They started overbuilding after acquiring more funding.

She began to overbuild as soon as the market demand increased. She began overbuilding as soon as the market demand increased.