When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To refuse (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to refuse" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I refuse to swim in the race because I'm not confident in my abilities.
Refusing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "refusing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Refusing to swim in the race was a tough choice for me.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To refuse (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To refuse is a difficult decision to make.
To refuse is a difficult decision to make.
- "*To refuse*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a difficult decision to make).
- 2Object
She wants me to refuse to swim in the race.
She wants me to refuse to swim in the race.
- "Me *to refuse* to swim in the race" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to refuse* to swim in the race).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a valid reason to refuse to swim in the race.
I need a valid reason to refuse to swim in the race.
- "*To refuse* to swim in the race" modifies the noun "reason."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a valid reason *to refuse* to swim in the race).
Refusing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Refusing to swim in the race disappointed my teammates.
Refusing to swim in the race disappointed my teammates.
- "*Refusing* to swim in the race" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (disappointed) + noun phrase (my teammates).
- 2Object
I regret refusing to swim in the lake.
I regret refusing to swim in the lake.
- "*Refusing* to swim in the lake" is the object of the verb "regret."
- Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*refusing* to swim in the lake).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has no interest in refusing to swim.
She has no interest in refusing to swim.
- "No interest in *refusing* to swim" is the object of the preposition "in."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (no interest in *refusing* to swim).
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 refuse to swim in the lake tomorrow.
They hope to refuse to swim with sharks during their vacation.
He wants to refuse to swim in cold water.
We decided to refuse to swim in the pool this weekend.
They agreed to refuse to swim in the race together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys refusing to swim in the pool every evening.
They recommend refusing to swim in polluted water for health reasons.
I dislike the idea of refusing to swim in natural bodies of water.
He avoids refusing to swim in public pools.
Can you imagine yourself refusing to swim with dolphins?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to refuse to swim in competitive races. She likes refusing to swim in competitive races.
We started to refuse to swim in cold water. We started refusing to swim in cold water.
He began to refuse to swim in crowded pools. He began refusing to swim in crowded pools.