When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To yield (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to yield" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
The farmer wants to yield a bountiful harvest this year.
Yielding (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "yielding" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Yielding to others' opinions can foster harmony in relationships.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To yield (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To yield is the goal of every farmer.
To yield is the goal of every farmer.
- "*To yield*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the goal of every farmer).
- 2Object
She expects me to yield a high profit.
She expects me to yield a high profit.
- "Me *to yield* a high profit" is the object of the verb "expects."
- Noun (She) + verb (expects) + noun phrase (me *to yield* a high profit).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a fertile soil to yield healthy crops.
We need a fertile soil to yield healthy crops.
- "*To yield* healthy crops" modifies the noun "soil."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a fertile soil *to yield* healthy crops).
Yielding (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Yielding is often seen as a sign of compromise.
Yielding is often seen as a sign of compromise.
- "*Yielding*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (often seen as a sign of compromise).
- 2Object
I enjoy yielding to my partner's wishes.
I enjoy yielding to my partner's wishes.
- "*Yielding* to my partner's wishes" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*yielding* to my partner's wishes).
- 3Object of Preposition
She has a talent for yielding to pressure.
She has a talent for yielding to pressure.
- "For *yielding* to pressure" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *yielding* to pressure).
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
Example
They plan to yield a larger crop next season.
He hopes to yield better results with his new farming techniques.
I want to yield a higher yield per acre.
She decided to yield to the demands of the market.
We agreed to yield a portion of our land for agricultural purposes.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
They enjoy yielding to the needs of their customers.
Experts recommend yielding to traffic regulations for safety.
He avoids yielding to temptation.
Can you imagine yourself yielding to someone else's control?
She doesn't mind yielding her turn to someone else.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
I like to yield to the flow of life. I like yielding to the flow of life.
He started to yield to the demands of his team. He started yielding to the demands of his team.
We began to yield to the pressure from our competitors. We began yielding to the pressure from our competitors.
