To Speechify vs Speechifying 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 speechify (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to speechify at the conference to share my ideas.

Speechifying (Gerund)

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

Example

Speechifying can be an effective way to rally support.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To speechify (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To speechify is his favorite pastime.

  To speechify is his favorite pastime.

  • "*To speechify*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + possessive pronoun (his) + adjective (favorite) + noun (pastime).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to speechify about the topic.

  She wants me to speechify about the topic.

  • "Me *to speechify* about the topic" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to speechify* about the topic).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a podium to speechify from.

  I need a podium to speechify from.

  • "*To speechify* from" modifies the noun "podium."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a podium *to speechify* from).

Speechifying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Speechifying is his favorite activity.

  Speechifying is his favorite activity.

  • "*Speechifying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + possessive pronoun (his) + adjective (favorite) + noun (activity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy speechifying in front of a crowd.

  I enjoy speechifying in front of a crowd.

  • "*Speechifying* in front of a crowd" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*speechifying* in front of a crowd).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for speechifying.

  He has a talent for speechifying.

  • "For *speechifying*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *speechifying*).

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

He plans to speechify about climate change at the event.

They hope to speechify together on stage.

She wants to speechify in front of a large audience.

We decided to speechify about the importance of education.

They agreed to speechify as a team at the conference.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys speechifying at public events.

They recommend practicing speechifying to improve communication skills.

I dislike the idea of speechifying in front of a large audience.

He avoids speechifying on controversial topics.

Can you imagine yourself speechifying in front of thousands of people?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to speechify about social issues. She likes speechifying about social issues.

We started to speechify professionally. We started speechifying professionally.

He began to speechify passionately. He began speechifying passionately.