To Overcall vs Overcalling 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 overcall (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to overcall their bid to take control of the game.

Overcalling (Gerund)

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

Example

Overcalling can disrupt your opponents' bidding system.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To overcall (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To overcall is a risky strategy in bridge.

  To overcall is a risky strategy in bridge.

  • "*To overcall*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a risky strategy in bridge).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to overcall their bluff.

  She wants me to overcall their bluff.

  • "Me *to overcall* their bluff" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to overcall* their bluff).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a good reason to overcall their bid.

  I need a good reason to overcall their bid.

  • "*To overcall* their bid" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a good reason *to overcall* their bid).

Overcalling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Overcalling is a common tactic in bridge.

  Overcalling is a common tactic in bridge.

  • "*Overcalling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common tactic in bridge).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy overcalling their strong bids.

  I enjoy overcalling their strong bids.

  • "*Overcalling* their strong bids" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*overcalling* their strong bids).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for overcalling their slam contracts.

  He has a talent for overcalling their slam contracts.

  • "For *overcalling* their slam contracts" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *overcalling* their slam contracts).

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
• hope
• want
• attempt
• refuse

Example

We decided to overcall their move in the game.

They hope to overcall their opponents' bids during the tournament.

He wants to overcall their strategy in the next round.

I attempted to overcall their opening bid.

She refused to overcall their invitation to play.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• postpone
• deny

Example

They avoid overcalling weak hands.

I am considering overcalling their no-trump bid.

Experts recommend overcalling with a balanced hand.

She postponed overcalling their preemptive bid.

He denies overcalling intentionally.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to overcall their opening bids. She likes overcalling their opening bids.

We started to overcall more aggressively. We started overcalling more aggressively.

He began to overcall their weak suit bids. He began overcalling their weak suit bids.