To Threaten vs Threatening 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 threaten (Infinitive)

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

Example

He promised not to threaten anyone again.

Threatening (Gerund)

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

Example

Threatening someone is not the solution.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To threaten (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To threaten is a serious offense.

  To threaten is a serious offense.

  • "*To threaten*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious offense).
• 2. Object

  She warned him not to threaten her.

  She warned him not to threaten her.

  • "Him *not to threaten* her" is the object of the verb "warned."
  • Noun (She) + verb (warned) + noun phrase (him *not to threaten* her).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a law to threaten harsher punishments.

  We need a law to threaten harsher punishments.

  • "*To threaten* harsher punishments" modifies the noun "law."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a law *to threaten* harsher punishments).

Threatening (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Threatening others is a form of intimidation.

  Threatening others is a form of intimidation.

  • "*Threatening* others" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a form of intimidation).
• 2. Object

  I dislike threatening behavior.

  I dislike threatening behavior.

  • "*Threatening* behavior" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*threatening* behavior).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He was arrested for threatening his neighbor.

  He was arrested for threatening his neighbor.

  • "For *threatening* his neighbor" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (was) + noun phrase (arrested for *threatening* his neighbor).

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
• demand
• refuse
• pretend
• learn

Example

They decided to threaten legal action if their demands were not met.

The protestors demanded the government to threaten sanctions against the company.

He refused to threaten violence as a means of negotiation.

She pretended to threaten to quit in order to get a raise.

They learned to threaten with legal consequences for non-compliance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• deny
• resist

Example

They avoid threatening confrontation whenever possible.

She is considering threatening legal action against the company.

Experts recommend reporting threatening behavior to the authorities.

He denied threatening anyone during the argument.

We must resist the urge to threaten violence in difficult situations.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to threaten legal action if necessary. I don't like threatening people.

They started to threaten consequences for non-compliance. They started threatening to take legal action.

She began to threaten him with exposure. She began threatening him with exposure.