To Wrenched vs Wrenching 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 wrenched (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to wrenched the rusty bolt loose.

Wrenching (Gerund)

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

Example

Wrenching the door open required a lot of strength.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To wrenched (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To wrenched is not an easy task.

  To wrenched is not an easy task.

  • "*To wrenched*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not an easy task).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to wrenched the door open.

  She wants me to wrenched the door open.

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

  I need a tool to wrenched the screws out.

  I need a tool to wrenched the screws out.

  • "*To wrenched* the screws out" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a tool *to wrenched* the screws out).

Wrenching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Wrenching is a physically demanding task.

  Wrenching is a physically demanding task.

  • "*Wrenching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a physically demanding task).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy wrenching bolts and nuts.

  I enjoy wrenching bolts and nuts.

  • "*Wrenching* bolts and nuts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*wrenching* bolts and nuts).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for wrenching things apart.

  He has a talent for wrenching things apart.

  • "For *wrenching* things apart" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *wrenching* things apart).

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
• attempt
• refuse
• wish
• demand

Example

We decided to wrenched the old pipe out.

He attempted to wrenched the stubborn lid off.

They refused to wrenched the heavy box.

I wish to wrenched the stuck window open.

She demanded to wrenched the broken lock fixed.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• resist
• understand

Example

She avoids wrenching her back while lifting heavy objects.

They considered wrenching the old tree stump out of the ground.

I recommend wrenching the screws gently to avoid damage.

He resisted wrenching the rusty nails out of the wood.

Can you understand the importance of wrenching the correct bolt?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She likes to wrenched the gears into place. She likes wrenching the gears into place.

We began to wrenched the old machinery back to life. We began wrenching the old machinery back to life.

He continues to wrenched the stubborn nut. He continues wrenching the stubborn nut.