To Overwhelm vs Overwhelming 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 overwhelm (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to overwhelm my opponents with my skills.

Overwhelming (Gerund)

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

Example

Overwhelming the audience with her performance was her goal.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To overwhelm (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To overwhelm is not an easy task.

  To overwhelm is not an easy task.

  • "*To overwhelm*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not an easy task).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to overwhelm her with surprises.

  She wants me to overwhelm her with surprises.

  • "Me *to overwhelm* her with surprises" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to overwhelm* her with surprises).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a strategy to overwhelm my opponents.

  I need a strategy to overwhelm my opponents.

  • "*To overwhelm* my opponents" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to overwhelm* my opponents).

Overwhelming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Overwhelming is a common feeling in high-pressure situations.

  Overwhelming is a common feeling in high-pressure situations.

  • "*Overwhelming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common feeling in high-pressure situations).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy overwhelming my opponents with my skills.

  I enjoy overwhelming my opponents with my skills.

  • "*Overwhelming* my opponents with my skills" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*overwhelming* my opponents with my skills).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for overwhelming challenges.

  She has a passion for overwhelming challenges.

  • "For *overwhelming* challenges" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *overwhelming* challenges).

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
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

He plans to overwhelm the audience with his performance.

They hope to overwhelm their competitors in the competition.

She wants to overwhelm the judges with her talent.

We decided to overwhelm our opponents with our teamwork.

They agreed to overwhelm their rivals in the game.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys overwhelming his opponents in every match.

They recommend overwhelming support for the cause.

I dislike the feeling of overwhelming pressure.

She avoids overwhelming herself with too many tasks.

Can you imagine the satisfaction of overwhelming your critics?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to overwhelm her opponents with her power. She likes overwhelming her opponents with her power.

We started to overwhelm our competitors from the beginning. We started overwhelming our competitors from the beginning.

He began to overwhelm the audience with his charisma. He began overwhelming the audience with his charisma.