To Undeserve vs Undeserving 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 undeserve (Infinitive)

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

Example

He doesn't want to undeserve the recognition for his hard work.

Undeserving (Gerund)

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

Example

Undeserving of the award, he declined the nomination.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To undeserve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To undeserve is unfair and unjust.

  To undeserve is unfair and unjust.

  • "*To undeserve*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (unfair and unjust).
• 2. Object

  She believes they don't deserve to undeserve such praise.

  She believes they don't deserve to undeserve such praise.

  • "They don't deserve *to undeserve* such praise" is the object of the verb "believes".
  • Noun (She) + verb (believes) + noun phrase (they don't deserve *to undeserve* such praise).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  It was an unexpected turn of events to undeserve all the support.

  It was an unexpected turn of events to undeserve all the support.

  • "*To undeserve* all the support" modifies the noun phrase "an unexpected turn of events".
  • Noun phrase (It) + verb (was) + adjective phrase (an unexpected turn of events *to undeserve* all the support).

Undeserving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Undeserving is a harsh judgment.

  Undeserving is a harsh judgment.

  • "*Undeserving*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a harsh judgment).
• 2. Object

  She couldn't stand the thought of being seen as undeserving.

  She couldn't stand the thought of being seen as undeserving.

  • "The thought of being seen as *undeserving*" is the object of the verb "couldn't stand".
  • Noun (She) + verb (couldn't stand) + noun phrase (the thought of being seen as *undeserving*).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He admitted to feeling undeserving of the praise.

  He admitted to feeling undeserving of the praise.

  • "*Feeling* *undeserving* of the praise" is the object of the preposition "to".
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (admitted) + preposition (to) + gerund (*feeling* *undeserving* of the praise).

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

• hope
• refuse
• attempt
• pretend
• struggle

Example

They hope not to undeserve their good fortune.

She refused to undeserve the love and affection she received.

He attempted not to undeserve the trust placed in him.

They pretended not to undeserve the recognition for their achievements.

She struggled not to undeserve the respect of her peers.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• deny
• consider
• imagine
• discuss

Example

They avoid being seen as undeserving of their success.

He denied undeserving any special treatment.

She considered herself undeserving of the award.

Can you imagine undeserving all the praise and recognition?

They discussed the issue of undeserving individuals receiving benefits.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I don't like to undeserve the trust of others. She doesn't like being seen as undeserving of the praise.

He began to undeserve the love and support of his family. We began questioning if he was undeserving of our trust.

They continue to undeserve the respect of their colleagues. He continues undeserving the recognition he receives.