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 want to accompany my friend 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 my friend to the concert is important to me.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To accompany (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To accompany someone is a sign of friendship.

  To accompany someone is a sign of friendship.

  • "*To accompany* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a sign of friendship).
• 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

  He needs a partner to accompany him to the event.

  He needs a partner to accompany him to the event.

  • "*To accompany* him to the event" modifies the noun "partner."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a partner *to accompany* him to the event).

Accompanying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Accompanying someone shows support.

  Accompanying someone shows support.

  • "*Accompanying* someone" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (shows) + noun (support).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy accompanying my family on trips.

  I enjoy accompanying my family on trips.

  • "*Accompanying* my family on trips" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*accompanying* my family on trips).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for accompanying musicians.

  She has a talent for accompanying musicians.

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

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

They plan to accompany their children on the school trip.

We hope to accompany our friends on their vacation.

She wants to accompany her sister to the party.

He decided to accompany his parents to the wedding.

They agreed to accompany each other to the concert.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys accompanying his friends to social events.

They recommend accompanying a guide when traveling in unfamiliar places.

I dislike the idea of accompanying large groups of people.

She avoids accompanying strangers to unknown locations.

Can you imagine yourself accompanying a famous celebrity?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to accompany her siblings to school. She likes accompanying her siblings to school.

We started to accompany our parents on their travels. We started accompanying our parents on their travels.

He began to accompany his friends to parties. He began accompanying his friends to parties.