To Arrange vs Arranging 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 arrange (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to arrange a meeting with the team.

Arranging (Gerund)

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

Example

Arranging flowers can be a therapeutic activity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To arrange (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To arrange a surprise party requires careful planning.

  To arrange a surprise party requires careful planning.

  • "*To arrange* a surprise party" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to arrange the furniture in the living room.

  She asked him to arrange the furniture in the living room.

  • "Him *to arrange* the furniture in the living room" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to arrange* the furniture in the living room).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a ladder to arrange the books on the top shelf.

  They need a ladder to arrange the books on the top shelf.

  • "*To arrange* the books on the top shelf" modifies the noun "ladder."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a ladder *to arrange* the books on the top shelf).

Arranging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Arranging the furniture in a room requires creativity and space planning.

  Arranging the furniture in a room requires creativity and space planning.

  • "*Arranging* the furniture in a room" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (creativity and space planning).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys arranging the ingredients before cooking a meal.

  He enjoys arranging the ingredients before cooking a meal.

  • "*Arranging* the ingredients before cooking a meal" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*arranging* the ingredients before cooking a meal).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for arranging flowers.

  She has a talent for arranging flowers.

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

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

He plans to arrange a surprise birthday party for his sister.

We hope to arrange a meeting with the CEO next week.

She wants to arrange a vacation to Hawaii.

They decided to arrange a charity event for the local community.

The committee agreed to arrange a conference on environmental sustainability.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy arranging their book collection alphabetically.

Experts recommend arranging your schedule for better productivity.

I dislike the idea of arranging the seating at the event.

He avoids arranging his clothes according to color.

Can you imagine yourself arranging a bouquet of flowers?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to arrange her workspace before starting work. She likes arranging her workspace before starting work.

We started to arrange the furniture in the new house. We started arranging the furniture in the new house.

He began to arrange the artwork on the gallery walls. He began arranging the artwork on the gallery walls.