To Slander vs Slandering 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 slander (Infinitive)

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

Example

She decided to slander her opponent to gain an advantage.

Slandering (Gerund)

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

Example

Slandering someone is not a productive way to resolve conflicts.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To slander (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To slander is a harmful act.

  To slander is a harmful act.

  • "*To slander*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a harmful act).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to slander his rival.

  He wants me to slander his rival.

  • "Me *to slander* his rival" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to slander* his rival).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need evidence to slander their accuser.

  They need evidence to slander their accuser.

  • "*To slander* their accuser" modifies the noun "evidence."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (evidence *to slander* their accuser).

Slandering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Slandering others is unethical.

  Slandering others is unethical.

  • "*Slandering*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (unethical).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy slandering my enemies.

  I enjoy slandering my enemies.

  • "*Slandering* my enemies" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*slandering* my enemies).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a reputation for slandering her rivals.

  She has a reputation for slandering her rivals.

  • "For *slandering* her rivals" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a reputation for *slandering* her rivals).

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 slander her competitor during the debate.

They hope to slander their opponent's reputation.

He wants to slander the company's image.

We decided to slander our rival in the media.

They agreed to slander their former colleague.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys slandering others to boost his ego.

They recommend avoiding slandering people in public.

I dislike the act of slandering others for personal gain.

She avoids slandering her colleagues to maintain a positive work environment.

Can you imagine yourself slandering someone's reputation without any evidence?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to slander her rivals. She likes slandering her rivals.

We started to slander our opponents during the campaign. We started slandering our opponents during the campaign.

He began to slander his ex-partner after their breakup. He began slandering his ex-partner after their breakup.