To Allow vs Allowing 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 allow (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need my parents to allow me to go to the party.

Allowing (Gerund)

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

Example

Allowing yourself to take breaks can increase productivity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To allow (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To allow someone to make their own choices is important for personal growth.

  To allow someone to make their own choices is important for personal growth.

  • "*To allow* someone to make their own choices" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for personal growth).
• 2. Object

  She wants her boss to allow her to take a vacation.

  She wants her boss to allow her to take a vacation.

  • "Her boss *to allow* her to take a vacation" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (her boss *to allow* her to take a vacation).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a key to allow access to the building.

  I need a key to allow access to the building.

  • "*To allow* access to the building" modifies the noun "key."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a key *to allow* access to the building).

Allowing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Allowing others to express their opinions fosters a culture of inclusivity.

  Allowing others to express their opinions fosters a culture of inclusivity.

  • "*Allowing* others to express their opinions" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (fosters) + noun phrase (a culture of inclusivity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy allowing myself to indulge in guilty pleasures.

  I enjoy allowing myself to indulge in guilty pleasures.

  • "*Allowing* myself to indulge in guilty pleasures" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*allowing* myself to indulge in guilty pleasures).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of allowing herself to be vulnerable.

  She has a fear of allowing herself to be vulnerable.

  • "Of *allowing* herself to be vulnerable" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *allowing* herself to be vulnerable).

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 allow her children to choose their own career paths.

They hope to allow pets in their new apartment.

He wants his team to allow him to take the final shot.

We decided to allow flexible work hours for employees.

They agreed to allow outside food in the theater.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin
• permit
• help

Example

She likes allowing her employees to work from home.

We started allowing pets in our office space.

He began allowing late submissions for assignments.

The rules permit allowing exceptions in certain circumstances.

They help by allowing access to educational resources.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• prefer
• stop
• regret

Example

I prefer to allow my children to learn from their mistakes. I prefer allowing my children to learn from their mistakes.

He stopped to allow others to take advantage of him. He stopped allowing others to take advantage of him.

She regrets to allow her fear to hold her back. She regrets allowing her fear to hold her back.