To Adhere vs Adhering 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 adhere (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to adhere to the rules and regulations of the organization.

Adhering (Gerund)

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

Example

Adhering to ethical standards is crucial in the field of journalism.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To adhere (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To adhere is important for maintaining discipline in the workplace.

  To adhere is important for maintaining discipline in the workplace.

  • "*To adhere*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for maintaining discipline in the workplace).
• 2. Object

  They expect us to adhere to the company policies.

  They expect us to adhere to the company policies.

  • "Us *to adhere* to the company policies" is the object of the verb "expect."
  • Noun (They) + verb (expect) + noun phrase (us *to adhere* to the company policies).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  He works hard to adhere strictly to the guidelines.

  He works hard to adhere strictly to the guidelines.

  • "*To adhere* strictly to the guidelines" modifies the verb "works."
  • Noun (He) + verb (works) + adverb phrase (hard *to adhere* strictly to the guidelines).

Adhering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Adhering to a schedule helps improve productivity.

  Adhering to a schedule helps improve productivity.

  • "*Adhering* to a schedule" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (improve productivity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy adhering to my morning routine.

  I enjoy adhering to my morning routine.

  • "*Adhering* to my morning routine" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*adhering* to my morning routine).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of adhering to her principles.

  She has a habit of adhering to her principles.

  • "Of *adhering* to her principles" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *adhering* to her principles).

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

She plans to adhere to a healthy diet and exercise routine.

They hope to adhere to the project timeline.

He wants to adhere to the dress code policy.

We decided to adhere to the safety protocols.

They agreed to adhere to the terms and conditions.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys adhering to a healthy lifestyle.

They recommend adhering to a strict budget for financial stability.

I dislike the idea of adhering to rigid rules.

He avoids adhering to negative influences.

Can you imagine yourself adhering to a vegetarian diet?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to adhere to the established norms. She likes adhering to the established norms.

We started to adhere to a more sustainable lifestyle. We started adhering to a more sustainable lifestyle.

He began to adhere to a daily exercise routine. He began adhering to a daily exercise routine.