To Recant vs Recanting 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 recant (Infinitive)

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

Example

He was forced to recant his previous statement.

Recanting (Gerund)

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

Example

Recanting your beliefs can be a challenging process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To recant (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To recant is a difficult decision to make.

  To recant is a difficult decision to make.

  • "*To recant*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a difficult decision to make).
• 2. Object

  They want him to recant his beliefs.

  They want him to recant his beliefs.

  • "Him *to recant* his beliefs" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (him *to recant* his beliefs).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a reason to recant her testimony.

  She needs a reason to recant her testimony.

  • "*To recant* her testimony" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to recant* her testimony).

Recanting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Recanting is often seen as a sign of weakness.

  Recanting is often seen as a sign of weakness.

  • "*Recanting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (often seen as a sign of weakness).
• 2. Object

  I regret recanting my original stance.

  I regret recanting my original stance.

  • "*Recanting* my original stance" is the object of the verb "regret."
  • Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*recanting* my original stance).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They had no choice but recanting their statements.

  They had no choice but recanting their statements.

  • "No choice but *recanting* their statements" is the object of the preposition "but."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (had) + noun phrase (no choice but *recanting* their statements).

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
• refuse
• demand
• pretend
• wish

Example

He decided to recant his support for the proposal.

She refused to recant her opinion despite pressure.

The prosecutor demanded him to recant his confession.

They pretended to recant their involvement in the crime.

I wish to recant my previous statement.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• recommend
• avoid
• mind
• understand

Example

He is considering recanting his support for the candidate.

The counselor recommended recanting any false claims.

She avoids recanting her position on the issue.

Do you mind recanting your earlier statement?

I can't understand why he is recanting his testimony.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• regret
• try
• continue

Example

He regrets to recant his previous statement. He regrets recanting his previous statement.

She will try to recant her beliefs. She will try recanting her beliefs.

They continue to recant their support for the policy. They continue recanting their support for the policy.