When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To stub (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to stub" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to stub my toe on the corner of the table.
Stubbing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "stubbing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Stubbing your toe is a painful experience.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To stub (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To stub your toe is a painful experience.
To stub your toe is a painful experience.
- "*To stub* your toe" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a painful experience).
- 2Object
She wants me to stub my toe on purpose.
She wants me to stub my toe on purpose.
- "Me *to stub* my toe on purpose" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to stub* my toe on purpose).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a padded corner to stub my toe on.
I need a padded corner to stub my toe on.
- "*To stub* my toe on" modifies the noun "padded corner."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a padded corner *to stub* my toe on).
Stubbing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Stubbing your toe can lead to injury.
Stubbing your toe can lead to injury.
- "*Stubbing* your toe" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (can lead) + noun phrase (injury).
- 2Object
I enjoy stubbing my toe for some strange reason.
I enjoy stubbing my toe for some strange reason.
- "*Stubbing* my toe" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*stubbing* my toe).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a fear of stubbing her toe.
She has a fear of stubbing her toe.
- "Of *stubbing* her toe" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *stubbing* her toe).
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
Example
She plans to stub her toe on purpose tomorrow.
They hope to stub their toe for good luck.
He wants to stub his toe to feel alive.
We decided to stub our toe as a dare.
They agreed to stub their toe for a prank.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys stubbing her toe for some strange reason.
They recommend avoiding stubbing your toe at all costs.
I dislike the feeling of stubbing my toe.
He avoids stubbing his toe by wearing protective shoes.
Can you imagine the pain of stubbing your toe repeatedly?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to stub her toe for the adrenaline rush. She likes stubbing her toe for the adrenaline rush.
We started to stub our toe as a game. We started stubbing our toe as a game.
He began to stub his toe as a form of self-punishment. He began stubbing his toe as a form of self-punishment.
