To Veer vs Veering 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 veer (Infinitive)

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

Example

I decided to veer off the main road and take a scenic route.

Veering (Gerund)

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

Example

Veering off the main road can lead to unexpected adventures.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To veer (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To veer off course is not advisable in this situation.

  To veer off course is not advisable in this situation.

  • "*To veer* off course" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not advisable).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to veer towards the city center.

  She wants me to veer towards the city center.

  • "Me *to veer* towards the city center" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to veer* towards the city center).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a car to veer quickly in emergency situations.

  I need a car to veer quickly in emergency situations.

  • "*To veer* quickly in emergency situations" modifies the noun "car."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a car *to veer* quickly in emergency situations).

Veering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Veering too far off course is risky.

  Veering too far off course is risky.

  • "*Veering* too far off course" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + adverb (too) + adjective (far) + prepositional phrase (off course).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy veering around sharp turns in my car.

  I enjoy veering around sharp turns in my car.

  • "*Veering* around sharp turns in my car" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*veering* around sharp turns in my car).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a knack for veering off the designated path.

  He has a knack for veering off the designated path.

  • "For *veering* off the designated path" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *veering* off the designated path).

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 veer off the beaten path during his trip.

They hope to veer away from the storm's path.

She wants to veer towards the mountains for a better view.

We decided to veer to the right at the intersection.

They agreed to veer left at the fork in the road.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys veering through winding roads in the countryside.

They recommend avoiding sudden veering while driving.

I dislike the feeling of veering out of control.

He avoids veering into oncoming traffic.

Can you imagine yourself veering off a cliff?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to veer off the main highway. I like veering off the main highway.

We started to veer away from the crowd. We started veering away from the crowd.

He began to veer towards the sunset. He began veering towards the sunset.