To Piffle vs Piffling 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 piffle (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to piffle around all day and not do any work.

Piffling (Gerund)

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

Example

Piffling about is not productive.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To piffle (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To piffle is a waste of time.

  To piffle is a waste of time.

  • "*To piffle*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a waste of time).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to piffle with her instead of going to the meeting.

  She wants me to piffle with her instead of going to the meeting.

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

  I need a day off to piffle and relax.

  I need a day off to piffle and relax.

  • "*To piffle* and relax" modifies the noun "day off."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a day off *to piffle* and relax).

Piffling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Piffling about annoys everyone.

  Piffling about annoys everyone.

  • "*Piffling* about" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (annoys) + noun phrase (everyone).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy piffling about in my garden.

  I enjoy piffling about in my garden.

  • "*Piffling* about in my garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*piffling* about in my garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of piffling about instead of getting work done.

  She has a habit of piffling about instead of getting work done.

  • "Of *piffling* about instead of getting work done" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *piffling* about instead of getting work done).

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
• pretend
• wish
• choose
• learn

Example

We decided to piffle around the park instead of going to the museum.

He pretended to piffle with his toys to avoid doing homework.

I wish to piffle away the afternoon without any responsibilities.

They chose to piffle in the garden rather than doing house chores.

She wants to piffle around and learn new things at her own pace.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• imagine
• consider
• resist
• understand

Example

He avoids piffling about and focuses on important tasks.

Can you imagine yourself piffling about all day without any goals?

They considered piffling about as a form of relaxation.

I can't resist piffling about when I have free time.

It's hard to understand the appeal of piffling about for hours.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to piffle around the house on lazy Sundays. She likes piffling about in her garden.

We started to piffle around aimlessly after finishing our work. We started piffling about in the park every evening.

He began to piffle about with his hobbies during the lockdown. He began piffling about in his workshop.