To Relent vs Relenting 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 relent (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to relent in my pursuit of success.

Relenting (Gerund)

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

Example

Relenting shows a sign of weakness.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To relent (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To relent is to give in to someone's demands.

  To relent is to give in to someone's demands.

  • "*To relent*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + prepositional phrase (to give in to someone's demands).
• 2. Object

  She wants him to relent and apologize.

  She wants him to relent and apologize.

  • "Him *to relent* and apologize" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (him *to relent* and apologize).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a reason to relent on his decision.

  He needs a reason to relent on his decision.

  • "*To relent* on his decision" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to relent* on his decision).

Relenting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Relenting is not always a bad thing.

  Relenting is not always a bad thing.

  • "*Relenting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adverb phrase (not always a bad thing).
• 2. Object

  I appreciate her relenting and compromising.

  I appreciate her relenting and compromising.

  • "Her *relenting* and compromising" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (I) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (her *relenting* and compromising).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has no intention of relenting in the negotiations.

  He has no intention of relenting in the negotiations.

  • "Of *relenting* in the negotiations" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (no intention of *relenting* in the negotiations).

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

• refuse
• demand
• struggle
• hope
• attempt

Example

They refuse to relent in their fight for justice.

We demand them to relent and accept our terms.

She struggles to relent and forgive him.

He hopes to relent and give her another chance.

They attempted to relent but couldn't bring themselves to do it.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• avoid
• postpone
• deny
• understand

Example

They are considering relenting and giving them a second chance.

She avoids relenting in conflicts and maintains her position.

He postponed relenting until he had more information.

They deny relenting to their opponent's demands.

I understand the difficulty of relenting in such circumstances.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• refuse
• attempt
• struggle

Example

He refuses to relent and give up on his dreams. He refuses relenting in the face of adversity.

They attempted to relent but ultimately stood their ground. They attempted relenting to find a resolution.

She struggles to relent and forgive him. She struggles with relenting and moving on.