To Seethe vs Seething 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 seethe (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to seethe with anger and instead choose to stay calm.

Seething (Gerund)

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

Example

Seething with anger will only lead to negative consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To seethe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To seethe quietly is not healthy for your mental well-being.

  To seethe quietly is not healthy for your mental well-being.

  • "*To seethe* quietly" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not healthy for your mental well-being).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to seethe in silence.

  She wants me to seethe in silence.

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

  I need a way to seethe less often.

  I need a way to seethe less often.

  • "*To seethe* less often" modifies the noun "way."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a way *to seethe* less often).

Seething (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Seething silently won't solve any problems.

  Seething silently won't solve any problems.

  • "*Seething* silently" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (won't solve) + noun phrase (any problems).
• 2. Object

  I can't stand his constant seething over trivial matters.

  I can't stand his constant seething over trivial matters.

  • "His constant *seething* over trivial matters" is the object of the verb "can't stand."
  • Noun (I) + verb (can't stand) + possessive pronoun (his) + adjective phrase (constant *seething* over trivial matters).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of seething with anger.

  She has a habit of seething with anger.

  • "Of *seething* with anger" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *seething* with anger).

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

• refuse
• choose
• attempt
• struggle
• pretend

Example

They refuse to seethe over small matters.

He chooses to seethe silently instead of confronting the issue.

We attempted to seethe with patience but couldn't control our anger.

She struggles to seethe calmly when faced with injustice.

They pretend to seethe in order to manipulate others.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• imagine
• resist

Example

He avoids seething during conflicts by practicing mindfulness.

They consider seething as a sign of weakness.

I recommend seething less and finding healthier ways to express anger.

Can you imagine yourself seething with frustration in that situation?

She tries to resist seething when someone criticizes her work.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I don't like to seethe over small issues. I don't like seething over small issues.

He began to seethe with rage after the argument. He began seething with rage after the argument.

They continue to seethe silently, never expressing their true feelings. They continue seething silently, never expressing their true feelings.