To Recable vs Recabling 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 recable (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to recable the entire network to improve the connectivity.

Recabling (Gerund)

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

Example

Recabling can be a time-consuming process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To recable (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To recable is a complex task that requires expertise.

  To recable is a complex task that requires expertise.

  • "*To recable*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a complex task that requires expertise).
• 2. Object

  They want me to recable the office space.

  They want me to recable the office space.

  • "Me *to recable* the office space" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (me *to recable* the office space).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need new cables to recable the system.

  We need new cables to recable the system.

  • "*To recable* the system" modifies the noun "cables."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (new cables *to recable* the system).

Recabling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Recabling requires careful planning and organization.

  Recabling requires careful planning and organization.

  • "*Recabling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning and organization).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy recabling the network.

  I enjoy recabling the network.

  • "*Recabling* the network" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*recabling* the network).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has experience in recabling data centers.

  He has experience in recabling data centers.

  • "In *recabling* data centers" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *recabling* data centers).

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

He plans to recable the entire building next month.

We hope to recable the network before the end of the year.

She wants to recable the server room for better performance.

They decided to recable the office space during the renovation.

The team agreed to recable the network infrastructure.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy recabling the office space to optimize the layout.

Experts recommend regular recabling to prevent network issues.

She dislikes the process of recabling due to its complexity.

We should avoid unnecessary recabling to save time and resources.

Can you imagine yourself recabling an entire building alone?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He would like to recable the server room. He would like recabling the server room.

They started to recable the network infrastructure. They started recabling the network infrastructure.

We began to recable the office space. We began recabling the office space.