To Skewer vs Skewering 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 skewer (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to skewer the vegetables for the kebabs.

Skewering (Gerund)

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

Example

Skewering the ingredients adds flavor to the dish.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To skewer (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To skewer the meat requires precision and skill.

  To skewer the meat requires precision and skill.

  • "*To skewer* the meat" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (precision and skill).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to skewer the shrimp for the barbecue.

  She wants me to skewer the shrimp for the barbecue.

  • "Me *to skewer* the shrimp for the barbecue" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to skewer* the shrimp for the barbecue).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a metal rod to skewer the pieces of meat.

  I need a metal rod to skewer the pieces of meat.

  • "*To skewer* the pieces of meat" modifies the noun "metal rod."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a metal rod *to skewer* the pieces of meat).

Skewering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Skewering the kebabs requires patience and precision.

  Skewering the kebabs requires patience and precision.

  • "*Skewering* the kebabs" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and precision).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy skewering the meat for the barbecue.

  I enjoy skewering the meat for the barbecue.

  • "*Skewering* the meat for the barbecue" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*skewering* the meat for the barbecue).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for skewering various ingredients.

  She has a passion for skewering various ingredients.

  • "For *skewering* various ingredients" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *skewering* various ingredients).

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 skewer the vegetables for the kebabs tomorrow.

They hope to skewer the meat perfectly during the cooking class.

He wants to skewer the chicken for the grill party.

We decided to skewer the tofu for the vegetarian dish.

They agreed to skewer the seafood for the seafood festival.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys skewering the vegetables for the kebabs every weekend.

They recommend using metal skewers when skewering delicate foods.

I dislike the task of skewering the meat on the skewers.

He avoids skewering small pieces of food that might fall off.

Can you imagine yourself skewering fruits for a fruit kebab?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to skewer the meat for the barbecue. She likes skewering the meat for the barbecue.

We started to skewer the vegetables for the kebabs. We started skewering the vegetables for the kebabs.

He began to skewer the meat for the grill party. He began skewering the meat for the grill party.