When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To photograph (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to photograph" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to photograph the beautiful sunset.
Photographing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "photographing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Photographing nature is a passion of mine.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To photograph (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To photograph requires patience and skill.
To photograph requires patience and skill.
- "*To photograph*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and skill).
- 2Object
She wants me to photograph her wedding.
She wants me to photograph her wedding.
- "Me *to photograph* her wedding" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to photograph* her wedding).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a good camera to photograph wildlife.
I need a good camera to photograph wildlife.
- "*To photograph* wildlife" modifies the noun "camera."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a good camera *to photograph* wildlife).
Photographing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Photographing landscapes brings me joy.
Photographing landscapes brings me joy.
- "*Photographing* landscapes" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (brings) + noun phrase (me joy).
- 2Object
I enjoy photographing animals in the wild.
I enjoy photographing animals in the wild.
- "*Photographing* animals in the wild" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*photographing* animals in the wild).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for photographing.
She has a talent for photographing.
- "For *photographing*" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *photographing*).
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
He plans to photograph the city skyline at sunset.
They hope to photograph rare birds during their trip.
She wants to photograph the Northern Lights.
We decided to photograph the mountain range.
They agreed to photograph the event together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys photographing sunsets on the beach.
They recommend photographing architecture in the city.
I dislike the idea of photographing insects up close.
She avoids photographing in harsh lighting conditions.
Can you imagine yourself photographing exotic locations?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to photograph flowers in her garden. She likes photographing flowers in her garden.
We started to photograph weddings professionally. We started photographing weddings professionally.
He began to photograph nature for a living. He began photographing nature for a living.
