To Amount vs Amounting 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 amount (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to amount to something in my career.

Amounting (Gerund)

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

Example

Amounting to nothing is not an option for me.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To amount (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To amount to success requires hard work and dedication.

  To amount to success requires hard work and dedication.

  • "*To amount* to success" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (hard work and dedication).
• 2. Object

  He wants his efforts to amount to something significant.

  He wants his efforts to amount to something significant.

  • "His efforts *to amount* to something significant" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (his efforts *to amount* to something significant).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a plan to amount to success.

  She needs a plan to amount to success.

  • "*To amount* to success" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a plan *to amount* to success).

Amounting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Amounting to a failure would be disappointing.

  Amounting to a failure would be disappointing.

  • "*Amounting* to a failure" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (would be) + adjective (disappointing).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy amounting to something great in my career.

  I enjoy amounting to something great in my career.

  • "*Amounting* to something great in my career" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*amounting* to something great in my career).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of amounting to mediocrity.

  She has a fear of amounting to mediocrity.

  • "Of *amounting* to mediocrity" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *amounting* to mediocrity).

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
• decide
• want
• choose
• determine

Example

They hope to amount to greatness in their chosen field.

We decided to amount to more than just average.

He wants to amount to something meaningful in his life.

She chose to amount to a successful entrepreneur.

They determined to amount to positive change in their community.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• delay
• imagine

Example

He avoids amounting to failure by putting in extra effort.

They consider amounting to success as their ultimate goal.

I recommend amounting to something meaningful in your life.

She delayed amounting to a decision until she had more information.

Can you imagine yourself amounting to greatness?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to amount to something significant in my career. I like amounting to new challenges in my career.

He started to amount to success at a young age. He started amounting to great achievements early on.

She began to amount to something extraordinary in her field. She began amounting to recognition for her talent.