To Affect vs Affecting 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 affect (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to affect your decision.

Affecting (Gerund)

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

Example

Affecting others can have serious consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To affect (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To affect others is not my intention.

  To affect others is not my intention.

  • "*To affect* others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not my intention).
• 2. Object

  She expects me to affect the outcome.

  She expects me to affect the outcome.

  • "Me *to affect* the outcome" is the object of the verb "expects."
  • Noun (She) + verb (expects) + noun phrase (me *to affect* the outcome).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a solution to affect positive change.

  We need a solution to affect positive change.

  • "*To affect* positive change" modifies the noun "solution."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a solution *to affect* positive change).

Affecting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Affecting people's lives is a big responsibility.

  Affecting people's lives is a big responsibility.

  • "*Affecting* people's lives" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a big responsibility).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy affecting positive change in my community.

  I enjoy affecting positive change in my community.

  • "*Affecting* positive change" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*affecting* positive change).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for affecting people's emotions.

  She has a talent for affecting people's emotions.

  • "For *affecting* people's emotions" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *affecting* people's emotions).

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 affect the result with her actions.

They hope to affect the outcome in their favor.

He wants to affect the decision-making process.

We decided to affect the situation positively.

They agreed to affect the final outcome together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys affecting positive change in the world.

They recommend affecting meaningful change in society.

I dislike the idea of affecting others negatively.

He avoids affecting people's feelings unintentionally.

Can you imagine affecting someone's life in a positive way?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to affect the outcome of events. She likes affecting the outcome of events.

We started to affect change in our organization. We started affecting change in our organization.

He began to affect people's opinions. He began affecting people's opinions.