When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To recommend (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to recommend" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I recommend swimming for overall fitness.
Recommending (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "recommending" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Recommending a healthy diet is essential for overall well-being.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To recommend (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To recommend exercise is important for a healthy lifestyle.
To recommend exercise is important for a healthy lifestyle.
- "*To recommend* exercise" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important for a healthy lifestyle).
- 2Object
She wants me to recommend a good swimming instructor.
She wants me to recommend a good swimming instructor.
- "Me *to recommend* a good swimming instructor" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to recommend* a good swimming instructor).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a guide to recommend suitable swimming techniques.
I need a guide to recommend suitable swimming techniques.
- "*To recommend* suitable swimming techniques" modifies the noun "guide."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a guide *to recommend* suitable swimming techniques).
Recommending (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Recommending regular exercise is beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Recommending regular exercise is beneficial for cardiovascular health.
- "*Recommending* regular exercise" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (beneficial for cardiovascular health).
- 2Object
I enjoy recommending swimming pools for family outings.
I enjoy recommending swimming pools for family outings.
- "*Recommending* swimming pools" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*recommending* swimming pools).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a passion for recommending healthy lifestyle choices.
She has a passion for recommending healthy lifestyle choices.
- "For *recommending* healthy lifestyle choices" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *recommending* healthy lifestyle choices).
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
She plans to recommend swimming as a form of therapy.
They hope to recommend swimming lessons to beginners.
He wants to recommend swimming goggles for eye protection.
We decided to recommend swimming as a low-impact exercise.
They agreed to recommend swimming as a recreational activity.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys recommending swimming exercises for physical therapy.
He avoids recommending swimming in polluted water.
Can you imagine yourself recommending swimming gear to professional athletes?
They consider recommending swimming as a weight-loss strategy.
I practice recommending swimming techniques to improve performance.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to recommend swimming for stress relief. She likes recommending swimming for stress relief.
We started to recommend swimming as a form of therapy. We started recommending swimming as a form of therapy.
He began to recommend swimming for overall fitness. He began recommending swimming for overall fitness.
