To Unbury vs Unburying 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 unbury (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to unbury the buried treasure.

Unburying (Gerund)

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

Example

Unburying requires patience and determination.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To unbury (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To unbury is a difficult task.

  To unbury is a difficult task.

  • "*To unbury*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a difficult task).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to unbury the hidden documents.

  She wants me to unbury the hidden documents.

  • "Me *to unbury* the hidden documents" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to unbury* the hidden documents).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a shovel to unbury the buried treasure.

  I need a shovel to unbury the buried treasure.

  • "*To unbury* the buried treasure" modifies the noun "shovel."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a shovel *to unbury* the buried treasure).

Unburying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Unburying can be a challenging process.

  Unburying can be a challenging process.

  • "*Unburying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + noun phrase (a challenging process).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy unburying buried secrets.

  I enjoy unburying buried secrets.

  • "*Unburying* buried secrets" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*unburying* buried secrets).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for unburying hidden treasures.

  She has a knack for unburying hidden treasures.

  • "For *unburying* hidden treasures" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *unburying* hidden treasures).

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
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

He plans to unbury the time capsule next year.

They hope to unbury ancient artifacts during the excavation.

She wants to unbury the truth about the mysterious disappearance.

We decided to unbury the old family photos from the attic.

They agreed to unbury the buried treasure together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys unburying lost artifacts in archaeological digs.

Experts recommend professional help for unburying ancient remains.

I dislike the idea of unburying old memories.

She avoids unburying painful experiences from the past.

Can you imagine yourself unburying buried treasure?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to unbury hidden treasures. They like unburying hidden treasures.

He started to unbury the lost artifacts. He started unburying the lost artifacts.

She began to unbury the buried secrets. She began unburying the buried secrets.