To Scutch vs Scutching 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 scutch (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to scutch the flax fibers to prepare them for spinning.

Scutching (Gerund)

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

Example

Scutching is an essential step in the process of making linen fabric.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To scutch (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To scutch is a labor-intensive process.

  To scutch is a labor-intensive process.

  • "*To scutch*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a labor-intensive process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to scutch the flax fibers.

  She wants me to scutch the flax fibers.

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

  We need a scutching tool to scutch the flax fibers.

  We need a scutching tool to scutch the flax fibers.

  • "*To scutch* the flax fibers" modifies the noun "scutching tool."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a scutching tool *to scutch* the flax fibers).

Scutching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Scutching requires specialized tools.

  Scutching requires specialized tools.

  • "*Scutching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (specialized tools).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy scutching the flax fibers.

  I enjoy scutching the flax fibers.

  • "*Scutching* the flax fibers" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*scutching* the flax fibers).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for scutching.

  She has a knack for scutching.

  • "For *scutching*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *scutching*).

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

They plan to scutch the flax fibers next week.

I hope to scutch enough fibers for a whole batch of yarn.

He wants to scutch the fibers until they are soft and smooth.

We decided to scutch the flax by hand.

They agreed to scutch the fibers before spinning them.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys scutching the fibers to separate the usable material.

They recommend regular scutching for better quality flax fibers.

I dislike the smell associated with scutching flax fibers.

She avoids scutching on hot summer days.

Can you imagine yourself scutching flax fibers by hand?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to scutch the flax fibers until they are smooth. She likes scutching the flax fibers until they are smooth.

We started to scutch the fibers after harvesting the flax plants. We started scutching the fibers after harvesting the flax plants.

He began to scutch the flax fibers with a wooden scutching knife. He began scutching the flax fibers with a wooden scutching knife.