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 to swim for overall fitness and health benefits.
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 swimming to my clients has always been beneficial.
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) + adjective phrase (important for a healthy lifestyle).
- 2Object
They asked me to recommend swimming classes for beginners.
They asked me to recommend swimming classes for beginners.
- "Me *to recommend* swimming classes for beginners" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to recommend* swimming classes for beginners).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a professional coach to recommend specific swimming techniques.
We need a professional coach to recommend specific swimming techniques.
- "*To recommend* specific swimming techniques" modifies the noun "coach."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a professional coach *to recommend* specific swimming techniques).
Recommending (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Recommending regular exercise is part of my job as a fitness trainer.
Recommending regular exercise is part of my job as a fitness trainer.
- "*Recommending* regular exercise" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (part of my job as a fitness trainer).
- 2Object
I enjoy recommending swimming as a form of relaxation to my friends.
I enjoy recommending swimming as a form of relaxation to my friends.
- "*Recommending* swimming as a form of relaxation" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*recommending* swimming as a form of relaxation).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for recommending the best swimming gear.
She has a talent for recommending the best swimming gear.
- "For *recommending* the best swimming gear" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *recommending* the best swimming gear).
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 for her patients.
They hope to recommend swimming as a way to relieve stress.
He wants to recommend swimming for weight loss.
We decided to recommend swimming as a low-impact exercise option.
They agreed to recommend swimming for cardiovascular health.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys recommending swimming for stress relief.
They suggest recommending swimming to improve muscle strength.
I am considering recommending swimming as a therapeutic activity.
He avoids recommending swimming in rough waters.
Can you imagine yourself recommending swimming to others for its health benefits?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to recommend swimming as a way to stay active. She likes recommending swimming as a way to stay active.
We started to recommend swimming lessons for children. We started recommending swimming lessons for children.
He began to recommend swimming as a stress-relieving activity. He began recommending swimming as a stress-relieving activity.
