When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To treat (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to treat" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I promise to treat myself to a spa day.
Treating (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "treating" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Treating yourself is important for self-care.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To treat (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To treat oneself is important for self-care.
To treat oneself is important for self-care.
- "*To treat* oneself" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important for self-care).
- 2Object
She wants me to treat her to dinner.
She wants me to treat her to dinner.
- "Me *to treat* her to dinner" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to treat* her to dinner).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a vacation to treat myself.
I need a vacation to treat myself.
- "*To treat* myself" modifies the noun "vacation."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a vacation *to treat* myself).
Treating (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Treating others with kindness is always a good practice.
Treating others with kindness is always a good practice.
- "*Treating* others with kindness" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (always a good practice).
- 2Object
I enjoy treating myself to a spa day.
I enjoy treating myself to a spa day.
- "*Treating* myself to a spa day" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*treating* myself to a spa day).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a passion for treating others with respect.
She has a passion for treating others with respect.
- "For *treating* others with respect" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *treating* others with respect).
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
She plans to treat herself to a spa day next weekend.
They hope to treat themselves to a fancy dinner on their anniversary.
He wants to treat himself to a new gadget.
We decided to treat ourselves to a weekend getaway.
They agreed to treat themselves to a shopping spree.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys treating herself to a massage every month.
They recommend treating yourself to a spa day as a form of self-care.
I dislike the idea of treating myself to unhealthy food.
He avoids treating himself to sugary snacks.
Can you imagine treating yourself to a luxurious vacation?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to treat herself to a fancy dinner. She likes treating herself to a fancy dinner.
We started to treat ourselves to weekly movie nights. We started treating ourselves to weekly movie nights.
He began to treat himself to daily walks in nature. He began treating himself to daily walks in nature.
