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

The new policy is expected to affect the economy.

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 unintended consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To affect (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To affect others is not your intention.

  To affect others is not your intention.

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

  They want him to affect positive change.

  They want him to affect positive change.

  • "Him *to affect* positive change" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (him *to affect* positive change).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a solution to affect real change.

  We need a solution to affect real change.

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

Affecting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Affecting people's emotions requires empathy.

  Affecting people's emotions requires empathy.

  • "*Affecting* people's emotions" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (empathy).
• 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 others.

  She has a talent for affecting others.

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

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 outcome of the meeting.

They hope to affect positive change in the community.

He wants to affect people's lives in a meaningful way.

We decided to affect a positive change in our organization.

They agreed to affect the decision-making process.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys affecting people's lives positively.

They recommend affecting change through peaceful means.

I dislike affecting others negatively.

He avoids affecting the outcome of delicate situations.

Can you imagine yourself affecting the world in a positive way?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to affect people's opinions. She likes affecting people's opinions.

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

He began to affect the outcome of the project. He began affecting the outcome of the project.