To Truant vs Truancy 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 truant (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to truant from school because education is important.

Truancy (Gerund)

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

Example

Truancy can lead to negative consequences for students.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To truant (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To truant is against the rules of the school.

  To truant is against the rules of the school.

  • "*To truant*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + prepositional phrase (against the rules of the school).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't want me to truant from class.

  She doesn't want me to truant from class.

  • "Me *to truant* from class" is the object of the verb "doesn't want."
  • Noun (She) + verb (doesn't want) + noun phrase (me *to truant* from class).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a valid reason to truant from work.

  I need a valid reason to truant from work.

  • "*To truant* from work" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a valid reason *to truant* from work).

Truancy (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Truancy is a serious issue in many schools.

  Truancy is a serious issue in many schools.

  • "*Truancy*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious issue in many schools).
• 2. Object

  I dislike truancy because it disrupts the learning environment.

  I dislike truancy because it disrupts the learning environment.

  • "*Truancy* because it disrupts the learning environment" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + noun (*truancy* because it disrupts the learning environment).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She was caught for truancy.

  She was caught for truancy.

  • "For *truancy*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (was caught) + prepositional phrase (for *truancy*).

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

• promise
• plan
• refuse
• attempt
• pretend

Example

He promised not to truant again.

They plan to truant during their lunch break.

She refuses to truant from her responsibilities.

We attempted to truant but got caught.

He pretends to truant to impress his friends.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• deny
• imagine
• resist

Example

We should avoid truancy at all costs.

They recommend addressing the issue of truancy in schools.

He denies any involvement in truancy.

Can you imagine the consequences of truancy?

She resisted the temptation of truancy.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to truant with my friends. I would like truancy to be reduced in schools.

They started to truant after they lost interest in their studies. They started engaging in truancy after they lost interest in their studies.

He began to truant regularly, which affected his academic performance. He began participating in truancy regularly, which affected his academic performance.