To Ventilate vs Ventilating 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 ventilate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to ventilate the room to let fresh air in.

Ventilating (Gerund)

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

Example

Ventilating the room regularly helps prevent mold growth.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To ventilate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To ventilate is important for maintaining good air quality.

  To ventilate is important for maintaining good air quality.

  • "*To ventilate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for maintaining good air quality).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to ventilate the house.

  She wants me to ventilate the house.

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

  We need a fan to ventilate the room.

  We need a fan to ventilate the room.

  • "*To ventilate* the room" modifies the noun "fan."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a fan *to ventilate* the room).

Ventilating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Ventilating is crucial for maintaining good air quality.

  Ventilating is crucial for maintaining good air quality.

  • "*Ventilating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (crucial for maintaining good air quality).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy ventilating the entire house.

  I enjoy ventilating the entire house.

  • "*Ventilating* the entire house" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*ventilating* the entire house).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for ventilating spaces.

  She has a passion for ventilating spaces.

  • "For *ventilating* spaces" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *ventilating* spaces).

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 ventilate the attic tomorrow.

They hope to ventilate the basement before summer.

She wants to ventilate the kitchen for better air circulation.

We decided to ventilate the office space.

They agreed to ventilate the gym regularly.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• mind
• consider

Example

Experts recommend ventilating your home daily.

He avoids ventilating areas with poor ventilation.

Can you imagine yourself ventilating a large warehouse?

I don't mind ventilating the garage.

We are considering ventilating the entire building.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to ventilate their bedrooms at night. They like ventilating their bedrooms at night.

She started to ventilate the office every morning. She started ventilating the office every morning.

He began to ventilate the living room more frequently. He began ventilating the living room more frequently.