To Synapse vs Synapsing 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 synapse (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to synapse with other neurons to transmit information.

Synapsing (Gerund)

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

Example

Synapsing is a fundamental process in the nervous system.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To synapse (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To synapse is a crucial process in neural communication.

  To synapse is a crucial process in neural communication.

  • "*To synapse*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crucial process in neural communication).
• 2. Object

  The neuron needs another neuron to synapse with.

  The neuron needs another neuron to synapse with.

  • "Another neuron *to synapse* with" is the object of the verb "needs."
  • Noun (The neuron) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (another neuron *to synapse* with).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a neurotransmitter to synapse across the synaptic cleft.

  I need a neurotransmitter to synapse across the synaptic cleft.

  • "*To synapse* across the synaptic cleft" modifies the noun "neurotransmitter."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a neurotransmitter *to synapse* across the synaptic cleft).

Synapsing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Synapsing plays a vital role in neural development.

  Synapsing plays a vital role in neural development.

  • "*Synapsing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (plays) + noun phrase (a vital role in neural development).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy synapsing with different types of neurons.

  I enjoy synapsing with different types of neurons.

  • "*Synapsing* with different types of neurons" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*synapsing* with different types of neurons).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for synapsing in complex neural networks.

  She has a passion for synapsing in complex neural networks.

  • "For *synapsing* in complex neural networks" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *synapsing* in complex neural networks).

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

• learn
• struggle
• demand
• seem
• wish

Example

The brain learns to synapse specific neurons for memory formation.

The neurons struggle to synapse properly in neurodevelopmental disorders.

The body demands the neurons to synapse quickly for efficient communication.

It seems difficult to synapse with damaged neurons.

I wish to synapse with the neurons responsible for creativity.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• understand

Example

He enjoys synapsing with neurons from different regions of the brain.

Experts recommend regular synapsing activities for cognitive enhancement.

They avoid synapsing with inhibitory neurons to maintain excitation.

Can you imagine yourself synapsing with neurons during learning processes?

Scientists are still trying to understand the mechanisms behind synapsing in the brain.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to synapse with neurons in the reward pathway. She likes synapsing with neurons in the reward pathway.

We started to synapse more efficiently after synaptic plasticity training. We started synapsing more efficiently after synaptic plasticity training.

He began to synapse at a young age. He began synapsing at a young age.