To Tesselate vs Tesselating 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 tesselate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to tesselate the floor with patterned tiles.

Tesselating (Gerund)

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

Example

Tesselating the floor is a time-consuming task.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To tesselate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To tesselate is a technique used in mathematics and art.

  To tesselate is a technique used in mathematics and art.

  • "*To tesselate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a technique used in mathematics and art).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to tesselate the wall with geometric shapes.

  She wants me to tesselate the wall with geometric shapes.

  • "Me *to tesselate* the wall with geometric shapes" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to tesselate* the wall with geometric shapes).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a ruler to tesselate the paper.

  I need a ruler to tesselate the paper.

  • "*To tesselate* the paper" modifies the noun "ruler."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a ruler *to tesselate* the paper).

Tesselating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Tesselating is a popular technique in graphic design.

  Tesselating is a popular technique in graphic design.

  • "*Tesselating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a popular technique in graphic design).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy tesselating surfaces with intricate patterns.

  I enjoy tesselating surfaces with intricate patterns.

  • "*Tesselating* surfaces with intricate patterns" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*tesselating* surfaces with intricate patterns).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for tesselating floors.

  She has a passion for tesselating floors.

  • "For *tesselating* floors" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *tesselating* floors).

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

She plans to tesselate the entire room with intricate designs.

They hope to tesselate the garden path with mosaic tiles.

He wants to tesselate the ceiling with repeating patterns.

We decided to tesselate the floor with hexagonal tiles.

They agreed to tesselate the patio with colorful stones.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys tesselating walls with unique designs.

They recommend practicing tesselating shapes for better spatial awareness.

I dislike the idea of tesselating the entire room.

He avoids tesselating surfaces that are not flat.

Can you imagine yourself tesselating a large floor with intricate patterns?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to tesselate the walls with colorful tiles. She likes tesselating the walls with colorful tiles.

We started to tesselate the floor in a diamond pattern. We started tesselating the floor in a diamond pattern.

He began to tesselate the tabletop with mosaic pieces. He began tesselating the tabletop with mosaic pieces.