To Sham vs Shamming 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 sham (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to sham my illness to get out of work.

Shamming (Gerund)

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

Example

Shamming is an unethical practice.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To sham (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To sham is a deceptive behavior.

  To sham is a deceptive behavior.

  • "*To sham*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a deceptive behavior).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to sham my symptoms.

  She wants me to sham my symptoms.

  • "Me *to sham* my symptoms" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to sham* my symptoms).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a valid excuse to sham being sick.

  He needs a valid excuse to sham being sick.

  • "*To sham* being sick" modifies the noun "excuse."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a valid excuse *to sham* being sick).

Shamming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Shamming is frowned upon in the medical profession.

  Shamming is frowned upon in the medical profession.

  • "*Shamming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (frowned upon in the medical profession).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy shamming my emotions.

  I enjoy shamming my emotions.

  • "*Shamming* my emotions" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*shamming* my emotions).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a talent for shamming.

  They have a talent for shamming.

  • "For *shamming*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a talent for *shamming*).

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
• pretend
• refuse
• wish
• choose

Example

They plan to sham their workload to take a day off.

He pretends to sham his injury to avoid physical activities.

She refused to sham her interest in the project.

I wish to sham my responsibilities and take a break.

We choose to sham our involvement in the conflict.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• postpone
• mind

Example

He avoids shamming his responsibilities at work.

They are considering shamming their interest in the project.

I recommend not shamming your abilities in front of others.

She postponed shamming her presentation until next week.

Do you mind shamming your ignorance about the topic?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to sham her knowledge to appear smart. She likes shamming her knowledge to appear smart.

We started to sham our enthusiasm to leave the party early. We started shamming our enthusiasm to leave the party early.

He began to sham his interest in the conversation. He began shamming his interest in the conversation.