To Susurrate vs Susurrating 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 susurrate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to susurrate in the wind to create a soothing atmosphere.

Susurrating (Gerund)

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

Example

Susurrating in the trees creates a calming effect.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To susurrate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To susurrate is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the forest.

  To susurrate is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the forest.

  • "*To susurrate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural phenomenon that occurs in the forest).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to susurrate in her ear to help her fall asleep.

  She wants me to susurrate in her ear to help her fall asleep.

  • "Me *to susurrate* in her ear" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to susurrate* in her ear).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a calm environment to susurrate my thoughts.

  I need a calm environment to susurrate my thoughts.

  • "*To susurrate* my thoughts" modifies the noun "environment."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a calm environment *to susurrate* my thoughts).

Susurrating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Susurrating is a unique sound that can be heard in nature.

  Susurrating is a unique sound that can be heard in nature.

  • "*Susurrating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a unique sound that can be heard in nature).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy susurrating in the background while reading a book.

  I enjoy susurrating in the background while reading a book.

  • "*Susurrating* in the background" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*susurrating* in the background).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fascination for the art of susurrating.

  She has a fascination for the art of susurrating.

  • "For the art of *susurrating*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fascination for the art of *susurrating*).

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

• decide
• hope
• plan
• wish
• struggle

Example

We decided to susurrate during our meditation session.

They hope to susurrate softly in the breeze during their picnic.

She plans to susurrate gently in the background of her relaxation playlist.

I wish to susurrate like the leaves rustling in the wind.

He struggles to susurrate without making any noise.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider
• resist

Example

They recommend susurrating as a form of relaxation therapy.

He avoids susurrating near areas with high noise pollution.

Can you imagine yourself susurrating in a peaceful forest?

We are considering susurrating as part of our mindfulness practice.

She resists susurrating when there are distractions around.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to susurrate in the evening breeze. She likes susurrating in the evening breeze.

We started to susurrate during our yoga sessions. We started susurrating during our yoga sessions.

He began to susurrate softly in the garden. He began susurrating softly in the garden.