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

It annoys me to have to deal with such incompetence.

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

Dealing with annoying people can be exhausting.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To annoy (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To annoy others is not a kind thing to do.

  To annoy others is not a kind thing to do.

  • "*To annoy* others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a kind thing to do).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't want him to annoy her anymore.

  She doesn't want him to annoy her anymore.

  • "Him *to annoy* her anymore" is the object of the verb "doesn't want."
  • Noun (She) + verb (doesn't want) + noun phrase (him *to annoy* her anymore).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a break to annoy my annoying coworker.

  I need a break to annoy my annoying coworker.

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

Annoying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Annoying others is not a productive use of time.

  Annoying others is not a productive use of time.

  • "*Annoying* others" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a productive use of time).
• 2. Object

  I can't stand dealing with annoying customers.

  I can't stand dealing with annoying customers.

  • "*Dealing with annoying* customers" is the object of the verb "can't stand."
  • Noun (I) + verb (can't stand) + gerund (*dealing with annoying* customers).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for getting under people's skin and causing annoying situations.

  She has a knack for getting under people's skin and causing annoying situations.

  • "For *getting under people's skin*" and "*causing annoying* situations" are the objects of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *getting under people's skin* and *causing annoying* situations).

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

• choose
• refuse
• demand
• pretend
• manage

Example

They chose to annoy their neighbors with loud music.

He refuses to annoy his parents by breaking curfew.

She demanded to annoy her boss with constant complaints.

They pretended to annoy their teacher by not doing their homework.

We managed to annoy the entire audience with our terrible performance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• mind
• postpone

Example

He enjoys dealing with annoying challenges at work.

They recommend avoiding annoying people for peace of mind.

I'm considering quitting my job due to annoying coworkers.

Do you mind me asking annoying questions?

We postponed dealing with annoying tasks until later.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I like to annoy my little sister. I like annoying my little sister.

They began to annoy their neighbors with late-night parties. They began annoying their neighbors with late-night parties.

She continues to annoy her colleagues with constant interruptions. She continues annoying her colleagues with constant interruptions.