To Overintensify vs Overintensifying 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 overintensify (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to overintensify the situation and make it worse.

Overintensifying (Gerund)

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

Example

Overintensifying can lead to unnecessary stress and burnout.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To overintensify (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To overintensify is not recommended in this case.

  To overintensify is not recommended in this case.

  • "*To overintensify*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adverb (not) + verb (recommended) + prepositional phrase (in this case).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't allow me to overintensify my workouts.

  She doesn't allow me to overintensify my workouts.

  • "Me *to overintensify* my workouts" is the object of the verb "allow."
  • Noun (She) + verb (does not allow) + noun phrase (me *to overintensify* my workouts).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a strategy to overintensify his training.

  He needs a strategy to overintensify his training.

  • "*To overintensify* his training" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a strategy *to overintensify* his training).

Overintensifying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Overintensifying is not recommended in this situation.

  Overintensifying is not recommended in this situation.

  • "*Overintensifying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adverb (not) + verb (recommended) + prepositional phrase (in this situation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy overintensifying my workouts for better results.

  I enjoy overintensifying my workouts for better results.

  • "*Overintensifying* my workouts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*overintensifying* my workouts) + prepositional phrase (for better results).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of overintensifying her expectations.

  She has a habit of overintensifying her expectations.

  • "Of *overintensifying* her expectations" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *overintensifying* her expectations).

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

• refuse
• attempt
• struggle
• wish
• manage

Example

They refused to overintensify the negotiation process.

We attempted to overintensify the team's performance with new strategies.

He struggled to overintensify his focus during the exam.

I wish to overintensify my creativity in writing.

She managed to overintensify her productivity at work.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• mind
• resist
• understand

Example

He avoids overintensifying his workload to maintain work-life balance.

They consider overintensifying their marketing efforts for better brand visibility.

I don't mind overintensifying my training sessions for faster progress.

She resists overintensifying her emotions in stressful situations.

We understand the consequences of overintensifying our demands.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to overintensify her workouts for a challenge. She likes overintensifying her workouts for a challenge.

We started to overintensify our study routine for better grades. We started overintensifying our study routine for better grades.

He began to overintensify his training regimen for a competition. He began overintensifying his training regimen for a competition.