To Relabel vs Relabeling 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 relabel (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to relabel all the products to improve their accuracy.

Relabeling (Gerund)

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

Example

Relabeling is a necessary step in quality control.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To relabel (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To relabel is a time-consuming task.

  To relabel is a time-consuming task.

  • "*To relabel*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a time-consuming task).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to relabel the boxes.

  She wants me to relabel the boxes.

  • "Me *to relabel* the boxes" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to relabel* the boxes).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a new label printer to relabel the items.

  I need a new label printer to relabel the items.

  • "*To relabel* the items" modifies the noun "label printer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a new label printer *to relabel* the items).

Relabeling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Relabeling requires attention to detail.

  Relabeling requires attention to detail.

  • "*Relabeling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy relabeling the products.

  I enjoy relabeling the products.

  • "*Relabeling* the products" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*relabeling* the products).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has experience in relabeling various items.

  She has experience in relabeling various items.

  • "In *relabeling* various items" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *relabeling* various items).

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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

They plan to relabel all the files by next week.

We hope to relabel the products before they are shipped.

He wants to relabel the entire inventory.

I decided to relabel the packaging for better visibility.

They agreed to relabel the boxes with new barcodes.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• delay
• imagine

Example

He enjoys relabeling the packages for better organization.

They recommend regular relabeling of the products for accurate inventory management.

I avoid relabeling items with illegible labels.

She delayed relabeling the products until the new labels arrived.

Can you imagine yourself relabeling hundreds of items in one day?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to relabel the products for better presentation. They like relabeling the products for better presentation.

We started to relabel the packages with new barcodes. We started relabeling the packages with new barcodes.

He began to relabel the files for easier access. He began relabeling the files for easier access.