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 attract bees.

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 attention is important for marketing.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To attract (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To attract attention, she wore a bright red dress.

  To attract attention, she wore a bright red dress.

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

  He wants me to attract more customers to the store.

  He wants me to attract more customers to the store.

  • "Me *to attract* more customers to the store" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to attract* more customers to the store).
• 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 is crucial for business success.

  Attracting customers is crucial for business success.

  • "*Attracting* customers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for business success).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy attracting people with my creative designs.

  I enjoy attracting people with my creative designs.

  • "*Attracting* people with my creative designs" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*attracting* people with my creative designs).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for attracting attention.

  She has a talent for attracting attention.

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

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

She plans to attract investors for her startup.

They hope to attract tourists to their city.

He wants to attract talented employees to his company.

We decided to attract more customers with a special promotion.

They agreed to attract sponsors for the event.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys attracting customers with her friendly approach.

They recommend using social media for attracting a larger audience.

I dislike the idea of attracting negative attention.

He avoids attracting unnecessary attention to himself.

Can you imagine attracting millions of followers with your talent?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to attract customers with unique products. She likes attracting customers with unique products.

We started to attract investors for our business. We started attracting investors for our business.

He began to attract attention with his artistic performances. He began attracting attention with his artistic performances.