When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To renew (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to renew" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I need to renew my passport before I can travel.
Renewing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "renewing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Renewing your library books is easy and convenient.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To renew (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To renew is a time-consuming process.
To renew is a time-consuming process.
- "*To renew*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a time-consuming process).
- 2Object
She wants me to renew her membership.
She wants me to renew her membership.
- "Me *to renew* her membership" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to renew* her membership).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a reminder to renew his subscription.
He needs a reminder to renew his subscription.
- "*To renew* his subscription" modifies the noun "reminder."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reminder *to renew* his subscription).
Renewing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Renewing your passport is necessary before traveling abroad.
Renewing your passport is necessary before traveling abroad.
- "*Renewing* your passport" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (necessary before traveling abroad).
- 2Object
I enjoy renewing my subscriptions online.
I enjoy renewing my subscriptions online.
- "*Renewing* my subscriptions online" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*renewing* my subscriptions online).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a habit of renewing his library card every month.
He has a habit of renewing his library card every month.
- "Of *renewing* his library card" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *renewing* his library card).
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
They plan to renew their vows on their 10th anniversary.
I hope to renew my driver's license online.
She wants to renew her gym membership for another year.
We decided to renew our lease for another month.
They agreed to renew their contract for another year.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys renewing her wardrobe every season.
They recommend regularly renewing your driver's license.
I dislike the process of renewing my car registration.
He avoids renewing his subscription by setting up auto-renewal.
Can you imagine yourself renewing your vows in a romantic destination?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
I like to renew my library books before they are due. I like renewing my library books before they are due.
We started to renew our annual memberships. We started renewing our annual memberships.
She began to renew her driver's license online. She began renewing her driver's license online.
