To Assign vs Assigning 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 assign (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to assign you a task for the project.

Assigning (Gerund)

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

Example

Assigning tasks is a crucial part of project management.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To assign (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To assign is my responsibility as the team leader.

  To assign is my responsibility as the team leader.

  • "*To assign*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (my responsibility as the team leader).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to assign the tasks to the team members.

  She wants me to assign the tasks to the team members.

  • "Me *to assign* the tasks to the team members" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to assign* the tasks to the team members).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a system to assign work efficiently.

  We need a system to assign work efficiently.

  • "*To assign* work efficiently" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a system *to assign* work efficiently).

Assigning (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Assigning tasks requires careful planning and organization.

  Assigning tasks requires careful planning and organization.

  • "*Assigning* tasks" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning and organization).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy assigning responsibilities to the team members.

  I enjoy assigning responsibilities to the team members.

  • "*Assigning* responsibilities to the team members" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*assigning* responsibilities to the team members).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for assigning tasks efficiently.

  He has a talent for assigning tasks efficiently.

  • "For *assigning* tasks efficiently" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *assigning* tasks efficiently).

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
• plan
• hope
• want
• refuse

Example

They decided to assign different roles to each team member.

We plan to assign the project to a dedicated team.

He hopes to assign you as the lead developer.

She wants to assign specific tasks to each team member.

I refuse to assign additional work to my already overloaded team.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• postpone

Example

They recommend assigning clear roles and responsibilities to avoid confusion.

We should avoid assigning too many tasks to one person.

I am considering assigning you as the project manager.

Do you mind assigning some extra tasks to your team members?

Let's postpone assigning the tasks until we have more information.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to assign important tasks to experienced team members. She likes assigning challenging projects to her team.

We started to assign roles and responsibilities to each team member. We started assigning tasks to the new interns.

He began to assign deadlines for the project milestones. He began assigning tasks to the remote team members.