When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To traumatize (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to traumatize" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I don't want to traumatize her with the details of the accident.
Traumatizing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "traumatizing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Traumatizing others is not a solution to your problems.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To traumatize (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To traumatize someone is a serious matter.
To traumatize someone is a serious matter.
- "*To traumatize* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious matter).
- 2Object
She doesn't like me to traumatize her with scary movies.
She doesn't like me to traumatize her with scary movies.
- "Me *to traumatize* her with scary movies" is the object of the verb "doesn't like."
- Noun (She) + verb (doesn't like) + noun phrase (me *to traumatize* her with scary movies).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a therapist to traumatize by past experiences.
I need a therapist to traumatize by past experiences.
- "*To traumatize* by past experiences" modifies the noun "therapist."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a therapist *to traumatize* by past experiences).
Traumatizing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Traumatizing people can have long-lasting effects.
Traumatizing people can have long-lasting effects.
- "*Traumatizing* people" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (can have) + noun phrase (long-lasting effects).
- 2Object
I regret traumatizing my sister with my behavior.
I regret traumatizing my sister with my behavior.
- "*Traumatizing* my sister with my behavior" is the object of the verb "regret."
- Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*traumatizing* my sister with my behavior).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a fear of traumatizing others.
He has a fear of traumatizing others.
- "Of *traumatizing* others" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *traumatizing* others).
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
Example
They plan to traumatize their opponents in the game.
We hope not to traumatize our children with divorce.
He wants to traumatize the audience with his performance.
She decided to traumatize herself with the horror movie.
They agreed to traumatize each other with scary stories.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys traumatizing her opponents in the game.
They recommend avoiding traumatizing situations for mental well-being.
I dislike the idea of traumatizing someone for personal gain.
He avoids traumatizing animals for entertainment purposes.
Can you imagine the impact of traumatizing experiences on a person's life?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
They don't like to traumatize others with their actions. They don't like traumatizing others with their actions.
She started to traumatize herself with negative thoughts. She started traumatizing herself with negative thoughts.
He began to traumatize his classmates with bullying. He began traumatizing his classmates with bullying.
