To Sharpen vs Sharpening 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 sharpen (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to sharpen my pencils before I can start drawing.

Sharpening (Gerund)

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

Example

Sharpening knives requires practice and patience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To sharpen (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To sharpen your skills, practice regularly.

  To sharpen your skills, practice regularly.

  • "*To sharpen*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (your skills).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to sharpen her knives.

  She wants me to sharpen her knives.

  • "Me *to sharpen* her knives" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to sharpen* her knives).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a whetstone to sharpen his tools.

  He needs a whetstone to sharpen his tools.

  • "*To sharpen* his tools" modifies the noun "whetstone."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a whetstone *to sharpen* his tools).

Sharpening (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Sharpening pencils is an important skill for artists.

  Sharpening pencils is an important skill for artists.

  • "*Sharpening* pencils" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important skill for artists).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy sharpening my tools in the workshop.

  I enjoy sharpening my tools in the workshop.

  • "*Sharpening* my tools in the workshop" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*sharpening* my tools in the workshop).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for sharpening her culinary skills.

  She has a passion for sharpening her culinary skills.

  • "For *sharpening* her culinary skills" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *sharpening* her culinary skills).

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
• decide
• want
• attempt
• determine

Example

They plan to sharpen their skills before the competition.

We decided to sharpen our knives for the cooking class.

He wants to sharpen his pencil to write neatly.

She attempted to sharpen her focus for the exam.

I determined to sharpen my knowledge in that subject.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

He enjoys sharpening his woodworking tools.

They recommend regular sharpening for better cutting performance.

I avoid sharpening my own knives and prefer to take them to a professional.

She is considering sharpening her photography skills.

Can you imagine yourself sharpening your cooking skills in a top restaurant?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to sharpen my pencils with a sharpener. I like sharpening my pencils with a sharpener.

We started to sharpen our knives for the camping trip. We started sharpening our knives for the camping trip.

He began to sharpen his skills in the art class. He began sharpening his skills in the art class.