To Attract vs Attracting 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 attract (Infinitive)

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

Example

The colorful flowers are designed to attract butterflies.

Attracting (Gerund)

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

Example

Attracting new customers is essential for business growth.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To attract (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To attract attention, he wore a bright red hat.

  To attract attention, he wore a bright red hat.

  • "*To attract* attention" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (wore) + noun phrase (a bright red hat).
• 2. Object

  She wants him to attract more customers.

  She wants him to attract more customers.

  • "Him *to attract* more customers" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (him *to attract* more customers).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a catchy slogan to attract new clients.

  They need a catchy slogan to attract new clients.

  • "*To attract* new clients" modifies the noun "slogan."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a catchy slogan *to attract* new clients).

Attracting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Attracting customers requires effective marketing strategies.

  Attracting customers requires effective marketing strategies.

  • "*Attracting* customers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (effective marketing strategies).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys attracting attention with his unique style.

  He enjoys attracting attention with his unique style.

  • "*Attracting* attention" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*attracting* attention).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for attracting positive energy.

  She has a talent for attracting positive energy.

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

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

We plan to attract more visitors with our new marketing strategy.

I hope to attract investors for my business idea.

They want to attract top talent to their company.

She decided to attract customers by offering discounts.

We agreed to attract more customers by improving our product quality.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy attracting customers with their creative advertisements.

Experts recommend attracting new clients through social media marketing.

I dislike the idea of attracting negative attention.

He avoids attracting unnecessary criticism.

Can you imagine yourself attracting a large audience with your performance?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to attract customers with her excellent service. She likes attracting customers with her excellent service.

They started to attract investors for their startup. They started attracting investors for their startup.

He began to attract attention with his innovative ideas. He began attracting attention with his innovative ideas.