To Reshelve vs Reshelving 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 reshelve (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to reshelve the books in the library.

Reshelving (Gerund)

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

Example

Reshelving the books is a necessary task in the library.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To reshelve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To reshelve the books is a time-consuming task.

  To reshelve the books is a time-consuming task.

  • "*To reshelve* the books" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a time-consuming task).
• 2. Object

  She asked me to reshelve the books on the top shelf.

  She asked me to reshelve the books on the top shelf.

  • "Me *to reshelve* the books on the top shelf" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to reshelve* the books on the top shelf).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a ladder to reshelve the books on the highest shelf.

  We need a ladder to reshelve the books on the highest shelf.

  • "*To reshelve* the books on the highest shelf" modifies the noun "ladder."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a ladder *to reshelve* the books on the highest shelf).

Reshelving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Reshelving books requires attention to detail.

  Reshelving books requires attention to detail.

  • "*Reshelving* books" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy reshelving books in my spare time.

  I enjoy reshelving books in my spare time.

  • "*Reshelving* books" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*reshelving* books).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for reshelving books quickly.

  She has a talent for reshelving books quickly.

  • "For *reshelving* books quickly" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *reshelving* books quickly).

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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

They plan to reshelve all the books in alphabetical order.

I hope to reshelve the books before the library closes.

She wants to reshelve the books by genre.

He decided to reshelve the books according to their subjects.

We agreed to reshelve the books based on their authors.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy reshelving books during their lunch break.

I recommend reshelving books in batches for efficiency.

He dislikes the task of reshelving books at the end of the day.

We avoid reshelving books with torn pages.

Can you imagine yourself reshelving books in a quiet library?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to reshelve books in alphabetical order. She likes reshelving books in alphabetical order.

We started to reshelve the books on the lower shelves. We started reshelving the books on the lower shelves.

He began to reshelve the books according to their genres. He began reshelving the books according to their genres.