To Alleviate vs Alleviating 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 alleviate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to alleviate their pain and suffering.

Alleviating (Gerund)

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

Example

Alleviating their pain is my priority.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To alleviate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To alleviate their pain is my main goal.

  To alleviate their pain is my main goal.

  • "*To alleviate* their pain" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (my main goal).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to alleviate her stress.

  She wants me to alleviate her stress.

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

  We need a solution to alleviate the problem.

  We need a solution to alleviate the problem.

  • "*To alleviate* the problem" modifies the noun "solution."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a solution *to alleviate* the problem).

Alleviating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Alleviating their pain requires specialized treatment.

  Alleviating their pain requires specialized treatment.

  • "*Alleviating* their pain" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (specialized treatment).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy alleviating their suffering.

  I enjoy alleviating their suffering.

  • "*Alleviating* their suffering" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*alleviating* their suffering).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for alleviating poverty.

  She has a passion for alleviating poverty.

  • "For *alleviating* poverty" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *alleviating* poverty).

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

• hope
• want
• decide
• choose
• determine

Example

They hope to alleviate poverty in their community.

He wants to alleviate the suffering of animals.

We decided to alleviate hunger in our city.

She chose to alleviate the pain of cancer patients.

They determined to alleviate the effects of climate change.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• understand

Example

I enjoy alleviating stress through meditation.

Doctors recommend alleviating pain with medication.

They consider alleviating poverty a top priority.

He avoids alleviating conflict between coworkers.

Can you understand the importance of alleviating suffering?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to alleviate stress through exercise. She likes alleviating stress through exercise.

We started to alleviate poverty in our neighborhood. We started alleviating poverty in our neighborhood.

He began to alleviate the symptoms of his illness. He began alleviating the symptoms of his illness.