When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To please (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to please" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to please my boss by completing the project on time.
Pleasing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "pleasing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Pleasing others can bring great satisfaction.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To please (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To please is his ultimate goal in life.
To please is his ultimate goal in life.
- "*To please*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his ultimate goal in life).
- 2Object
She wants me to please her parents.
She wants me to please her parents.
- "Me *to please* her parents" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to please* her parents).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a plan to please everyone.
I need a plan to please everyone.
- "*To please* everyone" modifies the noun "plan."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to please* everyone).
Pleasing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Pleasing people is not always easy.
Pleasing people is not always easy.
- "*Pleasing* people" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not always easy).
- 2Object
I enjoy pleasing my friends with homemade desserts.
I enjoy pleasing my friends with homemade desserts.
- "*Pleasing* my friends with homemade desserts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*pleasing* my friends with homemade desserts).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for pleasing others.
She has a talent for pleasing others.
- "For *pleasing* others" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *pleasing* others).
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 hope to please their customers with exceptional service.
We decided to please our clients by offering additional services.
He refused to please his demanding boss.
She attempted to please her teacher by submitting a well-researched paper.
They chose to please their guests with a gourmet dinner.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
I enjoy pleasing my family with thoughtful gifts.
They recommend pleasing your customers with personalized service.
Many people consider pleasing others to be a virtue.
He avoids pleasing people at the expense of his own happiness.
Can you understand the importance of pleasing your boss?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to please her colleagues. She likes pleasing her colleagues.
We started to please our customers with discounts. We started pleasing our customers with discounts.
He began to please his superiors with exceptional performance. He began pleasing his superiors with exceptional performance.
