To Accompany vs Accompanying 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 accompany (Infinitive)

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

Example

I agreed to accompany her to the concert.

Accompanying (Gerund)

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

Example

Accompanying someone can be a rewarding experience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To accompany (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To accompany is an important role in a band.

  To accompany is an important role in a band.

  • "*To accompany*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important role in a band).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to accompany her on the trip.

  She wants me to accompany her on the trip.

  • "Me *to accompany* her on the trip" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to accompany* her on the trip).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a guitar to accompany my singing.

  I need a guitar to accompany my singing.

  • "*To accompany* my singing" modifies the noun "guitar."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a guitar *to accompany* my singing).

Accompanying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Accompanying him was a great honor.

  Accompanying him was a great honor.

  • "*Accompanying* him" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (was) + noun phrase (a great honor).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy accompanying my friends to concerts.

  I enjoy accompanying my friends to concerts.

  • "*Accompanying* my friends to concerts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*accompanying* my friends to concerts).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for accompanying singers.

  She has a talent for accompanying singers.

  • "For *accompanying* singers" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *accompanying* singers).

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

We planned to accompany them on their vacation.

She hopes to accompany her friend to the party.

He wants to accompany his sister to the doctor's appointment.

They decided to accompany their parents on the trip.

We agreed to accompany our friends to the movie theater.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy accompanying their children to school events.

I recommend accompanying a guide when hiking in unfamiliar terrain.

He dislikes accompanying large groups of people.

She avoids accompanying her coworkers to social events.

Can you imagine yourself accompanying a famous musician on tour?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to accompany my sister to her piano lessons. I like accompanying my sister to her piano lessons.

They started to accompany a choir at their church. They started accompanying a choir at their church.

He began to accompany his friend on business trips. He began accompanying his friend on business trips.