When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To represent (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to represent" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to represent my country in the international conference.
Representing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "representing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Representing the company at the event is a crucial responsibility.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To represent (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To represent is a great honor and responsibility.
To represent is a great honor and responsibility.
- "*To represent*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great honor and responsibility).
- 2Object
She wants me to represent her in the meeting.
She wants me to represent her in the meeting.
- "Me *to represent* her in the meeting" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to represent* her in the meeting).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a lawyer to represent him in court.
He needs a lawyer to represent him in court.
- "*To represent* him in court" modifies the noun "lawyer."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a lawyer *to represent* him in court).
Representing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Representing is an important role in any delegation.
Representing is an important role in any delegation.
- "*Representing*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important role in any delegation).
- 2Object
I enjoy representing my team in competitions.
I enjoy representing my team in competitions.
- "*Representing* my team in competitions" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*representing* my team in competitions).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for representing diverse perspectives.
She has a talent for representing diverse perspectives.
- "For *representing* diverse perspectives" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *representing* diverse perspectives).
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 represent their company at the trade fair.
We hope to represent our school in the national competition.
She wants to represent her community in the city council.
He decided to represent his team in the championship.
They agreed to represent their organization at the conference.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
He enjoys representing his country in international forums.
They recommend representing the company at the upcoming conference.
I avoid representing conflicting interests in negotiations.
Can you imagine yourself representing your community on a global stage?
She is considering representing her district in the upcoming elections.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
We would like to represent our organization in the charity event. We would like representing our organization in the charity event.
He started to represent his team in high school. He started representing his team in high school.
She began to represent her country in international conferences. She began representing her country in international conferences.
