To Singularize vs Singularizing 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 singularize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to singularize this noun to its base form.

Singularizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Singularizing the nouns can be time-consuming.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To singularize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To singularize is a common task in programming languages.

  To singularize is a common task in programming languages.

  • "*To singularize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common task in programming languages).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to singularize the nouns in this list.

  She wants me to singularize the nouns in this list.

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

  I need a tool to singularize these words.

  I need a tool to singularize these words.

  • "*To singularize* these words" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a tool *to singularize* these words).

Singularizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Singularizing is an important step in data processing.

  Singularizing is an important step in data processing.

  • "*Singularizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in data processing).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy singularizing the words in this text.

  I enjoy singularizing the words in this text.

  • "*Singularizing* the words in this text" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*singularizing* the words in this text).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for singularizing complex nouns.

  She has a passion for singularizing complex nouns.

  • "For *singularizing* complex nouns" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *singularizing* complex nouns).

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

She plans to singularize all the nouns in the document.

They hope to singularize the plural forms correctly.

He wants to singularize the words in this sentence.

We decided to singularize the nouns before submitting the document.

They agreed to singularize the names in the database.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys singularizing the names in the dataset.

They recommend using a tool for singularizing plural nouns.

I dislike the process of singularizing irregular nouns.

He avoids singularizing nouns manually.

Can you imagine yourself singularizing hundreds of words?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to singularize words with ease. She likes singularizing words with ease.

We started to singularize the nouns in the database. We started singularizing the nouns in the database.

He began to singularize the terms in the glossary. He began singularizing the terms in the glossary.