To Quell vs Quelling 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 quell (Infinitive)

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

Example

The police were called in to quell the riot.

Quelling (Gerund)

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

Example

Quelling the rebellion required a strong military presence.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To quell (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To quell the unrest was their main objective.

  To quell the unrest was their main objective.

  • "*To quell* the unrest" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (was) + noun phrase (their main objective).
• 2. Object

  They asked him to quell the rumors.

  They asked him to quell the rumors.

  • "Him *to quell* the rumors" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to quell* the rumors).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a strong leader to quell the rebellion.

  She needs a strong leader to quell the rebellion.

  • "*To quell* the rebellion" modifies the noun "leader."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a strong leader *to quell* the rebellion).

Quelling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Quelling the rumors proved to be difficult.

  Quelling the rumors proved to be difficult.

  • "*Quelling* the rumors" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (proved) + noun phrase (difficult).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy quelling conflicts and finding resolutions.

  I enjoy quelling conflicts and finding resolutions.

  • "*Quelling* conflicts and finding resolutions" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*quelling* conflicts and finding resolutions).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He was praised for his skill in quelling the rebellion.

  He was praised for his skill in quelling the rebellion.

  • "For his skill in *quelling* the rebellion" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (was) + noun phrase (praised for his skill in *quelling* the rebellion).

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
• attempt
• refuse
• manage
• demand

Example

We decided to quell the protests peacefully.

They attempted to quell the uprising with negotiations.

He refused to quell the dissent among his followers.

The government managed to quell the rebellion with military force.

The crowd demanded the authorities to quell the violence.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• delay
• deny
• understand

Example

She avoids quelling conflicts whenever possible.

They recommend quelling the anger through peaceful dialogue.

We decided to delay quelling the rebellion until reinforcements arrived.

He denied quelling the dissent among his supporters.

I can understand the difficulties of quelling such a large-scale protest.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to quell any signs of rebellion. They like quelling any signs of rebellion.

He started to quell the unrest in the city. He started quelling the unrest in the city.

She began to quell the rumors spreading around. She began quelling the rumors spreading around.