To Romanticize vs Romanticizing 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 romanticize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I tend to romanticize the past and imagine it as better than it actually was.

Romanticizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Romanticizing the past can lead to unrealistic expectations.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To romanticize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To romanticize is a common tendency among dreamers.

  To romanticize is a common tendency among dreamers.

  • "*To romanticize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common tendency among dreamers).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to romanticize our relationship.

  She wants me to romanticize our relationship.

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

  I need a book to romanticize my fantasies.

  I need a book to romanticize my fantasies.

  • "*To romanticize* my fantasies" modifies the noun "book."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a book *to romanticize* my fantasies).

Romanticizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Romanticizing can be a form of escapism.

  Romanticizing can be a form of escapism.

  • "*Romanticizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + noun phrase (a form of escapism).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy romanticizing old photographs.

  I enjoy romanticizing old photographs.

  • "*Romanticizing* old photographs" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*romanticizing* old photographs).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of romanticizing her past relationships.

  She has a habit of romanticizing her past relationships.

  • "Of *romanticizing* her past relationships" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *romanticizing* her past relationships).

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

• imagine
• wish
• pretend
• like
• struggle

Example

He can't help but imagine to romanticize his childhood memories.

I wish to romanticize our love story like they do in movies.

They pretend to romanticize their lives on social media.

We all like to romanticize the idea of a perfect world.

She struggles to romanticize her difficult experiences.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• mind
• discuss
• recommend

Example

He tries to avoid romanticizing the past and focus on the present.

We should consider the consequences of romanticizing dangerous situations.

Do you mind romanticizing the memories we shared together?

Let's discuss the dangers of romanticizing mental health issues.

Experts recommend not romanticizing unhealthy relationship patterns.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to romanticize historical events. She likes romanticizing historical events.

They started to romanticize their own love story. They started romanticizing their own love story.

He began to romanticize his childhood memories. He began romanticizing his childhood memories.