To Upstage vs Upstaging 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 upstage (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to upstage my friend at her wedding.

Upstaging (Gerund)

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

Example

Upstaging others is not a kind behavior.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To upstage (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To upstage someone is considered rude.

  To upstage someone is considered rude.

  • "*To upstage* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (considered rude).
• 2. Object

  She expects me to upstage her with my performance.

  She expects me to upstage her with my performance.

  • "Me *to upstage* her with my performance" is the object of the verb "expects."
  • Noun (She) + verb (expects) + noun phrase (me *to upstage* her with my performance).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a bigger costume to upstage the other actors.

  He needs a bigger costume to upstage the other actors.

  • "*To upstage* the other actors" modifies the noun "costume."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a bigger costume *to upstage* the other actors).

Upstaging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Upstaging your colleagues will create a negative work environment.

  Upstaging your colleagues will create a negative work environment.

  • "*Upstaging* your colleagues" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (will create) + noun phrase (a negative work environment).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy upstaging my opponents in sports competitions.

  I enjoy upstaging my opponents in sports competitions.

  • "*Upstaging* my opponents in sports competitions" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*upstaging* my opponents in sports competitions).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for upstaging others.

  She has a talent for upstaging others.

  • "For *upstaging* others" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *upstaging* others).

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

• decide
• plan
• attempt
• pretend
• refuse

Example

They decided to upstage their competitors with a grand entrance.

She plans to upstage her rival in the upcoming dance competition.

He attempted to upstage his co-star during the play.

We pretended to upstage each other for fun during the talent show.

They refused to upstage the main speaker at the event.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• imagine

Example

He avoids upstaging his colleagues in team projects.

They recommend against upstaging your peers in social settings.

I don't mind upstaging my competitors in business.

She considers upstaging others to be unethical.

Can you imagine upstaging your own family members?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She doesn't like to upstage her friends. She doesn't like upstaging her friends.

They started to upstage each other in the talent show. They started upstaging each other in the talent show.

He began to upstage his teammates during practice. He began upstaging his teammates during practice.