To Vacuate vs Vacuating 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 vacuate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to vacuate the building immediately.

Vacuating (Gerund)

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

Example

Vacuating the building is necessary for our safety.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To vacuate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To vacuate is a necessary safety measure in case of an emergency.

  To vacuate is a necessary safety measure in case of an emergency.

  • "*To vacuate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary safety measure in case of an emergency).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to vacuate the area.

  She wants me to vacuate the area.

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

  We need a plan to vacuate the building safely.

  We need a plan to vacuate the building safely.

  • "*To vacuate* the building safely" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to vacuate* the building safely).

Vacuating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Vacuating the area should be done calmly and orderly.

  Vacuating the area should be done calmly and orderly.

  • "*Vacuating* the area" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (should be) + noun phrase (done calmly and orderly).
• 2. Object

  We enjoy vacuating during fire drills.

  We enjoy vacuating during fire drills.

  • "*Vacuating* during fire drills" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*vacuating* during fire drills).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has experience in vacuating large crowds.

  She has experience in vacuating large crowds.

  • "In *vacuating* large crowds" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *vacuating* large crowds).

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
• demand
• refuse
• attempt
• hope

Example

They decided to vacuate the city due to the hurricane.

He demanded to vacuate the premises immediately.

She refused to vacuate her home despite the flood warning.

We attempted to vacuate the building before the fire spread.

I hope to vacuate everyone safely in case of an earthquake.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• postpone
• resist

Example

They avoid vacuating during rush hour.

I am considering vacuating the building as a precautionary measure.

Experts recommend vacuating low-lying areas during floods.

We had to postpone vacuating due to bad weather conditions.

He resisted vacuating his apartment during the evacuation order.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to vacuate the premises immediately. I would like vacuating the area as soon as possible.

We started to vacuate the building when the alarm went off. We started vacuating the area as soon as we heard the warning.

He began to vacuate the floor he was on. He began vacuating the building along with the other residents.