When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To scare (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to scare" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to scare my friends at the Halloween party.
Scaring (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "scaring" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Scaring people can be a thrilling experience.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To scare (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To scare is a common tactic used in horror movies.
To scare is a common tactic used in horror movies.
- "*To scare*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common tactic used in horror movies).
- 2Object
She wants me to scare her brother.
She wants me to scare her brother.
- "Me *to scare* her brother" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to scare* her brother).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a scary mask to scare people.
I need a scary mask to scare people.
- "*To scare* people" modifies the noun "mask."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a scary mask *to scare* people).
Scaring (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Scaring others is not a kind behavior.
Scaring others is not a kind behavior.
- "*Scaring* others" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a kind behavior).
- 2Object
I enjoy scaring my friends on Halloween.
I enjoy scaring my friends on Halloween.
- "*Scaring* my friends on Halloween" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*scaring* my friends on Halloween).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for scaring people.
She has a talent for scaring people.
- "For *scaring* people" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *scaring* people).
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
Example
She plans to scare everyone with her costume.
They hope to scare their neighbors with spooky decorations.
He wants to scare his classmates during the haunted house tour.
We decided to scare our friends with a surprise prank.
They agreed to scare each other with ghost stories.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys scaring her siblings with scary stories.
They recommend scaring away pests with loud noises.
I dislike the idea of scaring small children.
He avoids scaring animals with sudden movements.
Can you imagine scaring someone with a prank?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to scare people with unexpected pranks. She likes scaring people with unexpected pranks.
We started to scare ourselves by watching horror movies. We started scaring ourselves by watching horror movies.
He began to scare his friends by telling ghost stories. He began scaring his friends by telling ghost stories.
