To Be Relegated vs Relegating 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 be relegated (Infinitive)

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

Example

The team hopes to be relegated to a lower division.

Relegating (Gerund)

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

Example

Relegating teams based on performance is a common practice in sports.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To be relegated (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To be relegated is a disappointing outcome for any team.

  To be relegated is a disappointing outcome for any team.

  • "*To be relegated*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a disappointing outcome for any team).
• 2. Object

  They want us to be relegated for strategic reasons.

  They want us to be relegated for strategic reasons.

  • "Us *to be relegated* for strategic reasons" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to be relegated* for strategic reasons).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a win to be relegated this season.

  He needs a win to be relegated this season.

  • "*To be relegated* this season" modifies the noun "win."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a win *to be relegated* this season).

Relegating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Relegating teams can be controversial.

  Relegating teams can be controversial.

  • "*Relegating* teams" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective (controversial).
• 2. Object

  We enjoy relegating rival teams to lower divisions.

  We enjoy relegating rival teams to lower divisions.

  • "*Relegating* rival teams to lower divisions" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*relegating* rival teams to lower divisions).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He was accused of relegating talented players to the bench.

  He was accused of relegating talented players to the bench.

  • "*Relegating* talented players to the bench" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (was accused of) + gerund (*relegating* talented players to the bench).

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

• hope
• want
• plan
• decide
• determine

Example

We hope to be relegated to a more competitive league next year.

She wants the team to be relegated for a fresh start.

They plan to be relegated in order to rebuild the team.

He decided to be relegated and focus on developing young players.

The club determined to be relegated as part of their long-term strategy.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• recommend
• avoid
• mind
• imagine

Example

They are considering relegating underperforming players to the reserve team.

Experts recommend relegating teams with financial troubles to lower divisions.

The coach tries to avoid relegating players without giving them a fair chance.

I don't mind relegating myself to a supporting role for the benefit of the team.

Can you imagine relegating the reigning champions to a lower division?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They would like to be relegated for a fresh start. They would like relegating teams based on performance.

She started to be relegated after a series of defeats. She started relegating teams as a means of punishment.

He began to be relegated regularly in recent seasons. He began relegating teams due to their poor performance.