To Annoy vs Annoying 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 annoy (Infinitive)

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

Example

She promised to annoy her brother by playing loud music.

Annoying (Gerund)

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

Example

Annoying others is not a good way to make friends.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To annoy (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To annoy is not a productive way to solve problems.

  To annoy is not a productive way to solve problems.

  • "*To annoy*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not a productive way to solve problems).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to annoy his annoying neighbor.

  He wants me to annoy his annoying neighbor.

  • "Me *to annoy* his annoying neighbor" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to annoy* his annoying neighbor).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a strategy to annoy my rival.

  I need a strategy to annoy my rival.

  • "*To annoy* my rival" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to annoy* my rival).

Annoying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Annoying people is considered rude.

  Annoying people is considered rude.

  • "*Annoying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (rude).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy annoying my little brother.

  I enjoy annoying my little brother.

  • "*Annoying* my little brother" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*annoying* my little brother).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for annoying her classmates.

  She has a talent for annoying her classmates.

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

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

• decide
• attempt
• refuse
• pretend
• learn

Example

We decided to annoy our friends with a surprise party.

She attempted to annoy her sister by hiding her favorite toy.

They refused to annoy their parents by skipping dinner.

He pretends to annoy his teacher by asking too many questions.

I learned to annoy my cat by playing with a laser pointer.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• imagine

Example

He avoids annoying his boss with constant complaints.

They consider annoying behaviors unacceptable in the workplace.

I recommend annoying sounds for alarm clocks to wake up faster.

Do you mind annoying noises in the background while you work?

Can you imagine annoying your best friend by playing pranks on them?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to annoy her siblings for fun. She likes annoying her siblings for fun.

We started to annoy our neighbors with late-night parties. We started annoying our neighbors with late-night parties.

He began to annoy his coworkers with sarcastic comments. He began annoying his coworkers with sarcastic comments.