To Restopper vs Restoppering 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 restopper (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to restopper the bottle to keep the contents fresh.

Restoppering (Gerund)

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

Example

Restoppering the bottle is necessary to maintain its freshness.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To restopper (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To restopper is a simple task that can be done quickly.

  To restopper is a simple task that can be done quickly.

  • "*To restopper*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a simple task that can be done quickly).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to restopper the bottle for her.

  She wants me to restopper the bottle for her.

  • "Me *to restopper* the bottle for her" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to restopper* the bottle for her).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a new stopper to restopper the bottle.

  I need a new stopper to restopper the bottle.

  • "*To restopper* the bottle" modifies the noun "stopper."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a new stopper *to restopper* the bottle).

Restoppering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Restoppering is a delicate process that requires precision.

  Restoppering is a delicate process that requires precision.

  • "*Restoppering*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a delicate process that requires precision).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy restoppering the bottle after every use.

  I enjoy restoppering the bottle after every use.

  • "*Restoppering* the bottle after every use" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*restoppering* the bottle after every use).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for restoppering bottles.

  She has a knack for restoppering bottles.

  • "For *restoppering* bottles" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *restoppering* bottles).

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

• decide
• plan
• want
• attempt
• refuse

Example

We decided to restopper the bottle with a cork.

She plans to restopper the bottle with a new cap.

He wants to restopper the bottle with a tight seal.

They attempted to restopper the bottle without spilling its contents.

I refuse to restopper the bottle until it's empty.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine
• practice

Example

They recommend regular restoppering of the bottle to preserve its contents.

He avoids restoppering the bottle with a loose cap.

I am considering restoppering the bottle with a different lid.

Can you imagine yourself restoppering the bottle with ease?

She practices restoppering the bottle to improve her technique.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to restopper the bottle after each use. She likes restoppering the bottle after each use.

We started to restopper the bottle to prevent leakage. We started restoppering the bottle to prevent leakage.

He began to restopper the bottle with a new cap. He began restoppering the bottle with a new cap.