To Shoo vs Shooing 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 shoo (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to shoo away the birds from my garden.

Shooing (Gerund)

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

Example

Shooing away insects can be a daily task.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To shoo (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To shoo is a common way to scare off animals.

  To shoo is a common way to scare off animals.

  • "*To shoo*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common way to scare off animals).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to shoo the flies out of the kitchen.

  She wants me to shoo the flies out of the kitchen.

  • "Me *to shoo* the flies out of the kitchen" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to shoo* the flies out of the kitchen).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a broom to shoo away the stray cats.

  I need a broom to shoo away the stray cats.

  • "*To shoo* away the stray cats" modifies the noun "broom."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a broom *to shoo* away the stray cats).

Shooing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Shooing away birds requires patience and persistence.

  Shooing away birds requires patience and persistence.

  • "*Shooing* away birds" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and persistence).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy shooing away squirrels from my garden.

  I enjoy shooing away squirrels from my garden.

  • "*Shooing* away squirrels from my garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*shooing* away squirrels from my garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for shooing away unwanted pests.

  She has a talent for shooing away unwanted pests.

  • "For *shooing* away unwanted pests" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *shooing* away unwanted pests).

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

• decide
• attempt
• refuse
• wish
• demand

Example

We decided to shoo the pigeons away from our balcony.

He attempted to shoo the dog out of his yard.

They refused to shoo the bees out of the house.

I wish to shoo away all the mosquitoes.

The customer demanded to shoo the mice out of the restaurant.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• imagine
• discuss

Example

He avoids shooing away spiders at all costs.

They recommend shooing away insects with natural repellents.

We are considering shooing away the birds from our rooftop garden.

Can you imagine yourself shooing away seagulls at the beach?

Let's discuss the best techniques for shooing away pests.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to shoo away the rabbits from her garden. She likes shooing away the rabbits from her garden.

We started to shoo away the geese from the park. We started shooing away the geese from the park.

He began to shoo away the stray dogs from his neighborhood. He began shooing away the stray dogs from his neighborhood.