To Be Prompted vs Being prompted 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 be prompted (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to be prompted during the presentation.

Being prompted (Gerund)

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

Example

Being prompted can be helpful during a test.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To be prompted (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To be prompted is embarrassing in front of an audience.

  To be prompted is embarrassing in front of an audience.

  • "*To be prompted*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (embarrassing in front of an audience).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't like me to be prompted during meetings.

  She doesn't like me to be prompted during meetings.

  • "Me *to be prompted* during meetings" is the object of the verb "doesn't like."
  • Noun (She) + verb (doesn't like) + noun phrase (me *to be prompted* during meetings).
• 3. Adverbial Modifier

  He prepared extensively to be prompted on any topic.

  He prepared extensively to be prompted on any topic.

  • "*To be prompted* on any topic" modifies the verb "prepared."
  • Noun (He) + verb (prepared) + adverb phrase (extensively *to be prompted* on any topic).

Being prompted (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Being prompted helps me remember important information.

  Being prompted helps me remember important information.

  • "*Being prompted*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (me remember important information).
• 2. Object

  I appreciate being prompted with reminders for deadlines.

  I appreciate being prompted with reminders for deadlines.

  • "*Being prompted* with reminders for deadlines" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (I) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (*being prompted* with reminders for deadlines).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of being prompted in public speaking.

  She has a fear of being prompted in public speaking.

  • "Of *being prompted* in public speaking" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *being prompted* in public speaking).

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

They plan to be prompted by a reminder email.

We hope to be prompted for our accomplishments.

She wants to be prompted with suggestions for improvement.

He decided to be prompted by his coach before making a move.

They agreed to be prompted by the alarm clock every morning.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys being prompted with creative ideas.

They recommend being prompted for better productivity.

I dislike the feeling of being prompted constantly.

She avoids being prompted in social situations.

Can you imagine being prompted by a robot assistant?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to be prompted with reminders. I would like being prompted with reminders.

They started to be prompted by their manager. They started being prompted by their manager.

We began to be prompted for feedback. We began being prompted for feedback.