When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To profer (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to profer" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to profer my opinion on the matter.
Profering (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "profering" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Profering advice can be helpful in certain situations.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To profer (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To profer a solution is essential in this situation.
To profer a solution is essential in this situation.
- "*To profer*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential in this situation).
- 2Object
She wants me to profer my expertise.
She wants me to profer my expertise.
- "Me *to profer* my expertise" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to profer* my expertise).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a platform to profer my ideas.
I need a platform to profer my ideas.
- "*To profer* my ideas" modifies the noun "platform."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to profer* my ideas).
Profering (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Profering assistance is a kind gesture.
Profering assistance is a kind gesture.
- "*Profering*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a kind gesture).
- 2Object
I enjoy profering my knowledge to others.
I enjoy profering my knowledge to others.
- "*Profering* my knowledge to others" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*profering* my knowledge to others).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for profering advice.
She has a talent for profering advice.
- "For *profering* advice" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *profering* advice).
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
She plans to profer her suggestions during the meeting.
They hope to profer their recommendations for improvement.
He wants to profer his insights on the topic.
We decided to profer our proposal at the conference.
They agreed to profer their opinions during the discussion.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys profering her insights during team meetings.
They recommend profering suggestions for process improvement.
I dislike the idea of profering unsolicited advice.
He avoids profering criticism without proper context.
Can you imagine yourself profering your expertise in front of a large audience?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to profer her opinions during debates. She likes profering her opinions during debates.
We started to profer our solutions to the problem. We started profering our solutions to the problem.
He began to profer his ideas in the brainstorming session. He began profering his ideas in the brainstorming session.
