To Recomfort vs Recomforting 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 recomfort (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to recomfort my friend who is going through a tough time.

Recomforting (Gerund)

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

Example

Recomforting others can bring them solace and support.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To recomfort (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To recomfort someone in need is a compassionate act.

  To recomfort someone in need is a compassionate act.

  • "*To recomfort* someone in need" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a compassionate act).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to recomfort her after the loss.

  She wants me to recomfort her after the loss.

  • "Me *to recomfort* her after the loss" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to recomfort* her after the loss).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a hug to recomfort him.

  He needs a hug to recomfort him.

  • "A hug *to recomfort* him" modifies the noun "need."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a hug *to recomfort* him).

Recomforting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Recomforting those in need is an act of kindness.

  Recomforting those in need is an act of kindness.

  • "*Recomforting* those in need" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an act of kindness).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy recomforting my friends when they are feeling down.

  I enjoy recomforting my friends when they are feeling down.

  • "*Recomforting* my friends when they are feeling down" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*recomforting* my friends when they are feeling down).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for recomforting others.

  She has a talent for recomforting others.

  • "For *recomforting* others" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *recomforting* others).

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

• promise
• hope
• want
• decide
• choose

Example

She promises to recomfort her friend during difficult times.

They hope to recomfort their loved ones when they are sad.

He wants to recomfort his family after a long day.

We decided to recomfort each other after the argument.

They choose to recomfort their pet by giving them treats.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

She enjoys recomforting people with her words of encouragement.

They recommend recomforting yourself through self-care activities.

I avoid recomforting others in public settings.

He is considering recomforting his neighbor after their loss.

Can you imagine recomforting someone with just a smile?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to recomfort her friends when they are feeling down. She likes recomforting her friends when they are feeling down.

We started to recomfort each other during challenging times. We started recomforting each other during challenging times.

He began to recomfort his family after their loss. He began recomforting his family after their loss.