To Substantiate vs Substantiating 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 substantiate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need evidence to substantiate my claims.

Substantiating (Gerund)

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

Example

Substantiating your claims is crucial in a debate.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To substantiate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To substantiate is essential in a scientific study.

  To substantiate is essential in a scientific study.

  • "*To substantiate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (essential).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to substantiate my argument.

  She wants me to substantiate my argument.

  • "Me *to substantiate* my argument" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to substantiate* my argument).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I have a document to substantiate my claim.

  I have a document to substantiate my claim.

  • "*To substantiate* my claim" modifies the noun "document."
  • Noun (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a document *to substantiate* my claim).

Substantiating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Substantiating your claims requires strong evidence.

  Substantiating your claims requires strong evidence.

  • "*Substantiating* your claims" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + adjective phrase (strong evidence).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy substantiating my arguments with facts.

  I enjoy substantiating my arguments with facts.

  • "*Substantiating* my arguments with facts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*substantiating* my arguments with facts).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for substantiating complex theories.

  She has a talent for substantiating complex theories.

  • "For *substantiating* complex theories" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *substantiating* complex theories).

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

• demand
• refuse
• attempt
• wish
• choose

Example

They demand evidence to substantiate the accusation.

He refused to substantiate his statement with facts.

She attempted to substantiate her theory with experiments.

We wish to substantiate our findings with more research.

You can choose to substantiate your argument with examples.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• consider
• practice
• avoid
• understand

Example

Experts recommend substantiating your claims with data.

It is worth considering substantiating your argument with examples.

He practices substantiating his opinions with logical reasoning.

We should avoid substantiating our claims with unreliable sources.

They struggle to understand the importance of substantiating their claims.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She likes to substantiate her opinions with solid evidence. She likes substantiating her opinions with solid evidence.

We began to substantiate our research findings. We began substantiating our research findings.

He continues to substantiate his claims with supporting data. He continues substantiating his claims with supporting data.