To Overwarm vs Overwarming 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 overwarm (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to overwarm the room, so I will adjust the thermostat.

Overwarming (Gerund)

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

Example

Overwarming can lead to excessive energy consumption.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To overwarm (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To overwarm is not recommended in this weather.

  To overwarm is not recommended in this weather.

  • "*To overwarm*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not recommended in this weather).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to overwarm the car before she gets in.

  She asked him to overwarm the car before she gets in.

  • "Him *to overwarm* the car before she gets in" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to overwarm* the car before she gets in).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  He adjusted the thermostat to overwarm the room quickly.

  He adjusted the thermostat to overwarm the room quickly.

  • "*To overwarm* the room quickly" modifies the noun "thermostat."
  • Noun (He) + verb (adjusted) + noun phrase (the thermostat *to overwarm* the room quickly).

Overwarming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Overwarming is a common issue in many households.

  Overwarming is a common issue in many households.

  • "*Overwarming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common issue in many households).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys overwarming the car on chilly mornings.

  She enjoys overwarming the car on chilly mornings.

  • "*Overwarming* the car on chilly mornings" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*overwarming* the car on chilly mornings).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He received a warning for overwarming the building.

  He received a warning for overwarming the building.

  • "For *overwarming* the building" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (received) + noun phrase (a warning for *overwarming* the building).

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
• attempt
• want
• refuse
• choose

Example

They decided to overwarm the house during the winter months.

I attempted to overwarm the office, but it became too hot.

She wants to overwarm the bathroom before taking a shower.

He refused to overwarm the living room despite the cold temperature.

We chose to overwarm the bedroom for a cozy sleep.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• resist

Example

They avoid overwarming their home by using a programmable thermostat.

Experts recommend avoiding overwarming to conserve energy.

Do you mind overwarming the room for a while?

She is considering overwarming the office during the winter months.

He resisted overwarming the house despite the cold weather.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to overwarm the room before guests arrive. I would like overwarming the room before guests arrive.

They started to overwarm their new apartment. They started overwarming their new apartment.

She began to overwarm the office during the winter season. She began overwarming the office during the winter season.