When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To recement (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to recement" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I need to recement the broken pieces of the statue.
Recementing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "recementing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Recementing the bricks will strengthen the structure of the building.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To recement (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To recement the bricks is a necessary step in repairing the wall.
To recement the bricks is a necessary step in repairing the wall.
- "*To recement* the bricks" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary step in repairing the wall).
- 2Object
He wants me to recement the tiles on the floor.
He wants me to recement the tiles on the floor.
- "Me *to recement* the tiles on the floor" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to recement* the tiles on the floor).
- 3Adjective Modifier
She needs a strong adhesive to recement the broken vase.
She needs a strong adhesive to recement the broken vase.
- "*To recement* the broken vase" modifies the noun "adhesive."
- Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a strong adhesive *to recement* the broken vase).
Recementing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Recementing the tiles is essential to prevent further damage.
Recementing the tiles is essential to prevent further damage.
- "*Recementing* the tiles" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential to prevent further damage).
- 2Object
She enjoys recementing the broken pottery.
She enjoys recementing the broken pottery.
- "*Recementing* the broken pottery" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
- Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*recementing* the broken pottery).
- 3Object of Preposition
I have experience in recementing old structures.
I have experience in recementing old structures.
- "In *recementing* old structures" is the object of the preposition "in."
- Noun phrase (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (experience in *recementing* old structures).
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
They plan to recement the foundation of the house next week.
I hope to recement the relationship between the two parties.
We want to recement the bond with our customers.
He decided to recement the cracked sidewalk in front of his house.
They agreed to recement the shattered glass pieces together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They enjoy recementing the walls of historic buildings.
Experts recommend regular recementing of concrete structures for durability.
She dislikes the process of recementing cracked pavement.
He avoids recementing areas with poor adhesion.
Can you imagine yourself recementing ancient ruins?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
I would like to recement the broken tiles in the bathroom. I would like recementing the cracks in the wall.
They started to recement the damaged foundation of the house. They started recementing the bricks in the patio.
She began to recement the loose stones in the garden pathway. She began recementing the chipped edges of the statue.
