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 you to dinner tonight.
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 others with kindness is always appreciated.
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 with respect.
She wants me to treat her with respect.
- "Me *to treat* her with respect" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to treat* her with respect).
- 3Adjective Modifier
I need a spa to treat myself.
I need a spa to treat myself.
- "*To treat* myself" modifies the noun "spa."
- Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a spa *to treat* myself).
Treating (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Treating people with respect is essential.
Treating people with respect is essential.
- "*Treating* people with respect" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential).
- 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 talent for treating patients with care.
She has a talent for treating patients with care.
- "For *treating* patients with care" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *treating* patients with care).
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 hope to treat themselves to a vacation next month.
We decided to treat ourselves to a fancy dinner.
He wants to treat himself to a new car.
She chose to treat herself to a day at the spa.
I learned to treat myself with kindness and compassion.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They recommend treating yourself to a massage for relaxation.
He avoids treating others unfairly.
Can you imagine treating yourself to a luxurious vacation?
We are considering treating our team to a celebration dinner.
Do you mind treating the group to drinks?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to treat herself to chocolate. She likes treating herself to chocolate.
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.
