To Unberth vs Unberthing 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 unberth (Infinitive)

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

Example

The captain decided to unberth the ship from the dock.

Unberthing (Gerund)

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

Example

Unberthing can be a challenging task for inexperienced sailors.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To unberth (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To unberth requires careful navigation.

  To unberth requires careful navigation.

  • "*To unberth*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful navigation).
• 2. Object

  He asked his crew to unberth the boat.

  He asked his crew to unberth the boat.

  • "His crew *to unberth* the boat" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (his crew *to unberth* the boat).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a tugboat to unberth the large vessel.

  We need a tugboat to unberth the large vessel.

  • "*To unberth* the large vessel" modifies the noun "tugboat."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a tugboat *to unberth* the large vessel).

Unberthing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Unberthing requires skill and precision.

  Unberthing requires skill and precision.

  • "*Unberthing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (skill and precision).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys the process of unberthing the boat.

  He enjoys the process of unberthing the boat.

  • "The process of *unberthing* the boat" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (the process of *unberthing* the boat).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They discussed the challenges of unberthing in rough weather.

  They discussed the challenges of unberthing in rough weather.

  • "Of *unberthing* in rough weather" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (discussed) + noun phrase (the challenges of *unberthing* in rough weather).

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
• want
• decide
• attempt
• refuse

Example

The team plans to unberth the yacht early in the morning.

She wants to unberth the ship before sunset.

They decided to unberth the cargo ship at high tide.

He attempted to unberth the sailboat in strong winds.

The captain refused to unberth the vessel without proper clearance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• postpone
• imagine

Example

Experienced sailors know how to avoid difficulties while unberthing.

We are considering different techniques for unberthing the vessel.

The instructor recommends practicing unberthing maneuvers in calm waters.

They decided to postpone unberthing until the storm passed.

Can you imagine the excitement of unberthing a massive cruise ship?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

The captain would like to unberth the ship immediately. The captain would like unberthing the ship immediately.

They started to unberth the boat with caution. They started unberthing the boat with caution.

He began to unberth the vessel using the proper procedure. He began unberthing the vessel using the proper procedure.