When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To overthrow (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to overthrow" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
The rebels are planning to overthrow the government.
Overthrowing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "overthrowing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Overthrowing a government is a complex process.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To overthrow (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To overthrow is their ultimate goal.
To overthrow is their ultimate goal.
- "*To overthrow*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (their ultimate goal).
- 2Object
They want us to overthrow the corrupt regime.
They want us to overthrow the corrupt regime.
- "Us *to overthrow* the corrupt regime" is the object of the verb "want."
- Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to overthrow* the corrupt regime).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a strategy to overthrow the dictator.
We need a strategy to overthrow the dictator.
- "*To overthrow* the dictator" modifies the noun "strategy."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to overthrow* the dictator).
Overthrowing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Overthrowing the regime was a major challenge.
Overthrowing the regime was a major challenge.
- "*Overthrowing* the regime" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (was) + noun phrase (a major challenge).
- 2Object
She enjoys overthrowing oppressive regimes.
She enjoys overthrowing oppressive regimes.
- "*Overthrowing* oppressive regimes" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
- Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*overthrowing* oppressive regimes).
- 3Object of Preposition
They were arrested for overthrowing the government.
They were arrested for overthrowing the government.
- "For *overthrowing* the government" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (They) + verb (were) + noun phrase (arrested for *overthrowing* the government).
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
Example
They plan to overthrow the current leadership.
I hope to overthrow the oppressive regime soon.
She wants to overthrow the corrupt government.
He decided to overthrow the ruling party.
They agreed to overthrow the dictator together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys overthrowing corrupt regimes.
Experts recommend peaceful overthrowing of governments.
They avoid overthrowing democratically elected governments.
She is considering overthrowing the existing system.
Can you imagine yourself overthrowing an unjust regime?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
We would like to overthrow the oppressive regime. We would like overthrowing the oppressive regime.
He started to overthrow the corrupt government. He started overthrowing the corrupt government.
They began to overthrow the dictatorship. They began overthrowing the dictatorship.
