To Retag vs Retagging 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 retag (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to retag all the items in the store.

Retagging (Gerund)

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

Example

Retagging can be a time-consuming process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To retag (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To retag is an important task for inventory management.

  To retag is an important task for inventory management.

  • "*To retag*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important task for inventory management).
• 2. Object

  She asked me to retag the products on the shelves.

  She asked me to retag the products on the shelves.

  • "Me *to retag* the products on the shelves" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to retag* the products on the shelves).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need new labels to retag the clothing items.

  We need new labels to retag the clothing items.

  • "*To retag* the clothing items" modifies the noun "labels."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (new labels *to retag* the clothing items).

Retagging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Retagging is necessary when there are pricing errors.

  Retagging is necessary when there are pricing errors.

  • "*Retagging*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (necessary when there are pricing errors).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy retagging the products to ensure accuracy.

  I enjoy retagging the products to ensure accuracy.

  • "*Retagging* the products to ensure accuracy" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*retagging* the products to ensure accuracy).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a knack for retagging items quickly.

  He has a knack for retagging items quickly.

  • "For *retagging* items quickly" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *retagging* items 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
• want
• decide
• agree
• attempt

Example

They plan to retag all the merchandise next week.

He wants to retag the products with accurate prices.

We decided to retag the entire inventory for the sale.

They agreed to retag the items according to the new categorization.

She attempted to retag the items before the store opened.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• mind
• imagine

Example

They recommend regular retagging for accurate inventory management.

I am considering retagging the entire stock for the upcoming sale.

He avoids retagging items during peak hours.

Do you mind retagging these products for me?

Can you imagine retagging thousands of items by hand?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to retag the items herself. She likes retagging the items herself.

We started to retag the products yesterday. We started retagging the products yesterday.

He began to retag the shelves this morning. He began retagging the shelves this morning.