To Triturate vs Triturating 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 triturate (Infinitive)

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

Example

The pharmacist needs to triturate the ingredients to make the medicine.

Triturating (Gerund)

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

Example

Triturating the mixture thoroughly ensures proper blending of the ingredients.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To triturate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To triturate effectively, you need a mortar and pestle.

  To triturate effectively, you need a mortar and pestle.

  • "*To triturate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a mortar and pestle).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to triturate the pills into powder.

  She asked him to triturate the pills into powder.

  • "Him *to triturate* the pills into powder" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to triturate* the pills into powder).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a blender to triturate the fruits.

  He needs a blender to triturate the fruits.

  • "*To triturate* the fruits" modifies the noun "blender."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a blender *to triturate* the fruits).

Triturating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Triturating the herbs releases their aroma.

  Triturating the herbs releases their aroma.

  • "*Triturating* the herbs" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (releases) + noun phrase (their aroma).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy triturating the spices to create unique flavors.

  I enjoy triturating the spices to create unique flavors.

  • "*Triturating* the spices" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*triturating* the spices).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for triturating different substances.

  He has a talent for triturating different substances.

  • "For *triturating* different substances" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *triturating* different substances).

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
• decide
• attempt
• choose
• struggle

Example

The chef plans to triturate the spices for the curry.

We decided to triturate the herbs for the tea.

They attempted to triturate the seeds with a grinder.

He chose to triturate the nuts for the recipe.

She struggles to triturate the vegetables without a food processor.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider
• practice

Example

Experts recommend triturating the medication for better absorption.

They avoid triturating the ingredients too forcefully.

Can you imagine yourself triturating the materials in a laboratory?

I am considering triturating the herbs for my homemade remedies.

She practices triturating the compounds to perfection.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

He likes to triturate the seeds for his baking experiments. He likes triturating the seeds for his baking experiments.

They began to triturate the samples for analysis. They began triturating the samples for analysis.

She continues to triturate the ingredients until smooth. She continues triturating the ingredients until smooth.