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To Announce vs Announcing Infinitives & Gerunds

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

Infinitives: An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word "to" (e.g., to swim, to eat, to learn). It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence. Infinitives are often used to express intentions, purposes, desires, or potential actions. Gerunds: A gerund is the -ing form of a verb (e.g., swimming, eating, learning). It’s different from a “present participle” which functions as a verb tense. A gerund can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To announce (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to announce the winner of the competition.

Announcing (Gerund)

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

Example

Announcing the results is always exciting.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To announce (Infinitive)

  • 1Subject

    To announce is his main responsibility as the host of the show.

    To announce is his main responsibility as the host of the show.

    • "*To announce*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
    • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his main responsibility as the host of the show).
  • 2Object

    They asked me to announce the news to everyone.

    They asked me to announce the news to everyone.

    • "Me *to announce* the news to everyone" is the object of the verb "asked."
    • Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to announce* the news to everyone).
  • 3Adjective Modifier

    We need a microphone to announce the winners.

    We need a microphone to announce the winners.

    • "*To announce* the winners" modifies the noun "microphone."
    • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a microphone *to announce* the winners).

Announcing (Gerund)

  • 1Subject

    Announcing the winners is his favorite part of the event.

    Announcing the winners is his favorite part of the event.

    • "*Announcing* the winners" is the subject of the sentence.
    • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his favorite part of the event).
  • 2Object

    She enjoys announcing the winners on stage.

    She enjoys announcing the winners on stage.

    • "*Announcing* the winners on stage" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
    • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*announcing* the winners on stage).
  • 3Object of Preposition

    We had a ceremony for announcing the new CEO.

    We had a ceremony for announcing the new CEO.

    • "For *announcing* the new CEO" is the object of the preposition "for."
    • Noun phrase (We) + verb (had) + noun phrase (a ceremony for *announcing* the new CEO).

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

Example

She plans to announce the new product next week.

I hope to announce the good news at the meeting.

He wants to announce his retirement to the team.

They decided to announce the winner tomorrow.

We agreed to announce the changes in the schedule.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

Example

He enjoys announcing the arrival of special guests.

They recommend announcing the event through social media.

I dislike the idea of announcing the winners in public.

She avoids announcing bad news to the team.

Can you imagine yourself announcing breaking news on live TV?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

Example

She likes to announce important updates during the meeting. She likes announcing important updates during the meeting.

We started to announce the winners of the competition. We started announcing the winners of the competition.

He began to announce the results of the survey. He began announcing the results of the survey.

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