To Scrape vs Scraping 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 scrape (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to scrape the paint off the wall before repainting it.

Scraping (Gerund)

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

Example

Scraping the snow off the car can be time-consuming.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To scrape (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To scrape is a tedious task.

  To scrape is a tedious task.

  • "*To scrape*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (tedious).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to scrape the old wallpaper.

  She wants me to scrape the old wallpaper.

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

  He needs a scraper to scrape off the ice from his car windshield.

  He needs a scraper to scrape off the ice from his car windshield.

  • "*To scrape* off the ice from his car windshield" modifies the noun "scraper."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a scraper *to scrape* off the ice from his car windshield).

Scraping (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Scraping requires a lot of effort.

  Scraping requires a lot of effort.

  • "*Scraping*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of effort).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy scraping the frosting off cupcakes.

  I enjoy scraping the frosting off cupcakes.

  • "*Scraping* the frosting off cupcakes" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*scraping* the frosting off cupcakes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are experts in scraping paint from walls.

  They are experts in scraping paint from walls.

  • "In *scraping* paint from walls" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (experts in *scraping* paint from walls).

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
• hope
• attempt

Example

They plan to scrape the rust off the metal surface.

I want to scrape the labels off the jars.

We decided to scrape the chewing gum off the pavement.

She hopes to scrape the mud off her shoes.

He attempted to scrape the barnacles off the boat hull.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• imagine
• resist

Example

I avoid scraping my knees on the rough surface.

Experts recommend scraping the excess food off dishes before washing them.

She is considering scraping the old wallpaper instead of replacing it.

Can you imagine yourself scraping the ice off the windshield in freezing weather?

He resisted scraping the burnt food off the pan.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to scrape off the old paint from furniture. They like scraping off the old paint from furniture.

We started to scrape the labels off the bottles. We started scraping the labels off the bottles.

He began to scrape the mud off his shoes. He began scraping the mud off his shoes.