To Upchuck vs Upchucking 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 upchuck (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to upchuck after eating that spoiled food.

Upchucking (Gerund)

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

Example

Upchucking is a natural reflex when the body needs to get rid of something harmful.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To upchuck (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To upchuck is an unpleasant experience.

  To upchuck is an unpleasant experience.

  • "*To upchuck*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an unpleasant experience).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to upchuck in the bathroom.

  She asked him to upchuck in the bathroom.

  • "Him *to upchuck* in the bathroom" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to upchuck* in the bathroom).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a bucket to upchuck in.

  He needs a bucket to upchuck in.

  • "*To upchuck* in" modifies the noun "bucket."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a bucket *to upchuck* in).

Upchucking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Upchucking can be embarrassing in public.

  Upchucking can be embarrassing in public.

  • "*Upchucking*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective phrase (embarrassing in public).
• 2. Object

  He hates the feeling of upchucking.

  He hates the feeling of upchucking.

  • "The feeling of *upchucking*" is the object of the verb "hates."
  • Noun (He) + verb (hates) + gerund (the feeling of *upchucking*).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of upchucking in public.

  She has a fear of upchucking in public.

  • "Of *upchucking* in public" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *upchucking* in public).

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

• try
• refuse
• pretend
• decide
• want

Example

She tried to upchuck after eating too much.

He refused to upchuck even though he felt sick.

They pretended to upchuck to play a prank on their friends.

We decided to upchuck the bad food we ate.

I want to upchuck after that roller coaster ride.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• dislike
• mind
• imagine

Example

He avoids upchucking by eating healthy and staying hydrated.

Doctors recommend drinking plenty of fluids to prevent upchucking.

She dislikes the sensation of upchucking.

Do you mind upchucking in front of others?

It's hard to imagine upchucking in a fancy restaurant.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He doesn't like to upchuck after every meal. He doesn't like upchucking after every meal.

She started to upchuck when she smelled the rotten eggs. She started upchucking when she smelled the rotten eggs.

They began to upchuck uncontrollably. They began upchucking uncontrollably.