To Avail vs Availing 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 avail (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to avail of the discount before it expires.

Availing (Gerund)

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

Example

Availing of this service is a great convenience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To avail (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To avail is a wise decision in this situation.

  To avail is a wise decision in this situation.

  • "*To avail*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a wise decision).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to avail of the opportunity.

  She wants me to avail of the opportunity.

  • "Me *to avail* of the opportunity" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to avail* of the opportunity).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  I need to avail myself to avail of this chance.

  I need to avail myself to avail of this chance.

  • "*To avail* of this chance" modifies the verb "avail myself."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + infinitive phrase (to avail myself *to avail* of this chance).

Availing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Availing of discounts is a smart shopping strategy.

  Availing of discounts is a smart shopping strategy.

  • "*Availing* of discounts" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a smart shopping strategy).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy availing myself of this opportunity.

  I enjoy availing myself of this opportunity.

  • "*Availing* myself of this opportunity" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*availing* myself of this opportunity).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of availing herself of such offers.

  She has a habit of availing herself of such offers.

  • "Of *availing* herself of such offers" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *availing* herself of such offers).

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 avail of the early bird offer.

They hope to avail of the new product launch discount.

He wants to avail of the exclusive benefits.

We decided to avail of the limited-time promotion.

They agreed to avail of the special package deal.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys availing of the free trial period.

They recommend regularly availing of this service.

I dislike the idea of availing myself of this option.

He avoids availing of unreliable sources.

Can you imagine yourself availing of this opportunity?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to avail herself of the discounts. She likes availing herself of the discounts.

We started to avail of the online shopping platform. We started availing of the online shopping platform.

He began to avail of the benefits immediately. He began availing of the benefits immediately.