When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To troubleshoot (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to troubleshoot" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to troubleshoot the issue to find a solution.
Troubleshooting (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "troubleshooting" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Troubleshooting is a crucial step in resolving technical issues.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To troubleshoot (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To troubleshoot is an essential skill in IT.
To troubleshoot is an essential skill in IT.
- "*To troubleshoot*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential skill in IT).
- 2Object
She asked me to troubleshoot her computer.
She asked me to troubleshoot her computer.
- "Me *to troubleshoot* her computer" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to troubleshoot* her computer).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a technician to troubleshoot the network issue.
We need a technician to troubleshoot the network issue.
- "*To troubleshoot* the network issue" modifies the noun "technician."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a technician *to troubleshoot* the network issue).
Troubleshooting (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Troubleshooting requires analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Troubleshooting requires analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- "*Troubleshooting*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (analytical thinking and problem-solving skills).
- 2Object
I enjoy troubleshooting computer problems.
I enjoy troubleshooting computer problems.
- "*Troubleshooting* computer problems" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*troubleshooting* computer problems).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a knack for troubleshooting network issues.
He has a knack for troubleshooting network issues.
- "For *troubleshooting* network issues" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *troubleshooting* network issues).
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
He plans to troubleshoot the software problem tomorrow.
They hope to troubleshoot the network connectivity issue soon.
She wants to troubleshoot the error message on her laptop.
We decided to troubleshoot the system malfunction ourselves.
They agreed to troubleshoot the server performance together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys troubleshooting software glitches.
They recommend regular troubleshooting to maintain system performance.
I dislike the process of troubleshooting complex issues.
He avoids troubleshooting hardware problems on his own.
Can you imagine yourself troubleshooting a network outage?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
He likes to troubleshoot computer hardware. He likes troubleshooting computer hardware.
We started to troubleshoot the software bug. We started troubleshooting the software bug.
She began to troubleshoot network issues professionally. She began troubleshooting network issues professionally.
