To Ripen vs Ripening 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 ripen (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to ripen the bananas before eating them.

Ripening (Gerund)

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

Example

Ripening is a natural process for fruits and vegetables.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To ripen (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To ripen fruits is a natural process.

  To ripen fruits is a natural process.

  • "*To ripen*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to ripen the avocados.

  She wants me to ripen the avocados.

  • "Me *to ripen* the avocados" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to ripen* the avocados).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a paper bag to ripen the tomatoes.

  I need a paper bag to ripen the tomatoes.

  • "*To ripen* the tomatoes" modifies the noun "paper bag."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a paper bag *to ripen* the tomatoes).

Ripening (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Ripening of fruits and vegetables occurs due to natural enzymes.

  Ripening of fruits and vegetables occurs due to natural enzymes.

  • "*Ripening*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (occurs) + noun phrase (due to natural enzymes).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy ripening tomatoes in my garden.

  I enjoy ripening tomatoes in my garden.

  • "*Ripening* tomatoes in my garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*ripening* tomatoes in my garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for ripening fruits perfectly.

  She has a talent for ripening fruits perfectly.

  • "For *ripening* fruits perfectly" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *ripening* fruits perfectly).

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

She plans to ripen the mangoes on the counter.

They hope to ripen the pears by placing them in a brown bag.

He wants to ripen the apples on the windowsill.

We decided to ripen the bananas by keeping them in a warm place.

They agreed to ripen the oranges by wrapping them in newspaper.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys ripening bananas until they are sweet and yellow.

They recommend using ethylene gas for faster ripening of fruits.

I dislike the taste of unripe fruits before ripening.

He avoids artificial methods of ripening fruits and prefers natural ripening.

Can you imagine the aroma of freshly ripening peaches?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to ripen tomatoes on the windowsill. She likes ripening tomatoes on the windowsill.

We started to ripen the mangoes by wrapping them in a brown bag. We started ripening the mangoes by wrapping them in a brown bag.

He began to ripen the avocados by placing them next to bananas. He began ripening the avocados by placing them next to bananas.