To Tally vs Tallying 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 tally (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to tally the scores of the game.

Tallying (Gerund)

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

Example

Tallying the numbers can be time-consuming.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To tally (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To tally is an important step in keeping track of expenses.

  To tally is an important step in keeping track of expenses.

  • "*To tally*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in keeping track of expenses).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to tally the votes.

  She wants me to tally the votes.

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

  I need a calculator to tally the numbers.

  I need a calculator to tally the numbers.

  • "*To tally* the numbers" modifies the noun "calculator."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a calculator *to tally* the numbers).

Tallying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Tallying the votes is a crucial part of the election process.

  Tallying the votes is a crucial part of the election process.

  • "*Tallying* the votes" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crucial part of the election process).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy tallying the scores.

  I enjoy tallying the scores.

  • "*Tallying* the scores" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*tallying* the scores).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for tallying the data.

  She has a knack for tallying the data.

  • "For *tallying* the data" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *tallying* the data).

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 tally the sales at the end of the day.

They hope to tally the scores accurately.

She wants to tally the inventory before the end of the month.

We decided to tally the expenses for the project.

They agreed to tally the votes together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys tallying the expenses for the month.

They recommend regular tallying of the inventory for accurate records.

I dislike the task of tallying the numbers manually.

She avoids tallying the scores during busy times.

Can you imagine yourself tallying the votes in a high-stakes election?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to tally the scores myself. I like tallying the scores myself.

We started to tally the expenses monthly. We started tallying the expenses monthly.

He began to tally the inventory every morning. He began tallying the inventory every morning.