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 Olympics.
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 your community is a rewarding experience.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To represent (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To represent is a great honor.
To represent is a great honor.
- "*To represent*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great honor).
- 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
I need a lawyer to represent me in court.
I need a lawyer to represent me in court.
- "*To represent* me in court" modifies the noun "lawyer."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a lawyer *to represent* me in court).
Representing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Representing others requires great responsibility.
Representing others requires great responsibility.
- "*Representing*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (great responsibility).
- 2Object
I enjoy representing my team in tournaments.
I enjoy representing my team in tournaments.
- "*Representing* my team in tournaments" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*representing* my team in tournaments).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for representing different characters.
She has a talent for representing different characters.
- "For *representing* different characters" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *representing* different characters).
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 hope to represent their team in the championship.
He wants to represent his company at the conference.
We decided to represent our community in the election.
They agreed to represent their class in the competition.
She plans to represent her organization at the event.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys representing her school in competitions.
They recommend representing your interests in negotiations.
Can you imagine yourself representing your country at the international level?
He avoids representing controversial opinions.
I am considering representing a new brand.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to represent her community in local events. She likes representing her community in local events.
We started to represent our organization in the annual conference. We started representing our organization in the annual conference.
He began to represent his team in international competitions. He began representing his team in international competitions.
