To Be Awarded vs Being awarded 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 be awarded (Infinitive)

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

Example

I hope to be awarded the scholarship for my academic achievements.

Being awarded (Gerund)

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

Example

Being awarded is a recognition of one's hard work and dedication.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To be awarded (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To be awarded is a great honor.

  To be awarded is a great honor.

  • "*To be awarded*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great honor).
• 2. Object

  They want me to be awarded the prize.

  They want me to be awarded the prize.

  • "Me *to be awarded* the prize" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (me *to be awarded* the prize).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a certificate to be awarded to her.

  She needs a certificate to be awarded to her.

  • "*To be awarded* to her" modifies the noun "certificate."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a certificate *to be awarded* to her).

Being awarded (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Being awarded requires exceptional skills.

  Being awarded requires exceptional skills.

  • "*Being awarded*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (exceptional skills).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy being awarded for my accomplishments.

  I enjoy being awarded for my accomplishments.

  • "*Being awarded* for my accomplishments" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*being awarded* for my accomplishments).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a passion for being awarded scholarships.

  He has a passion for being awarded scholarships.

  • "For *being awarded* scholarships" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *being awarded* scholarships).

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 be awarded the title next year.

We hope to be awarded the contract for our proposal.

She wants to be awarded the gold medal in the competition.

They decided to be awarded the prestigious award.

He agreed to be awarded the scholarship for his achievements.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys being awarded for her hard work.

They recommend being awarded for outstanding performance.

I dislike the feeling of being awarded without deserving it.

He avoids being awarded for trivial achievements.

Can you imagine being awarded the Nobel Prize?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to be awarded for her contributions. She likes being awarded for her contributions.

We started to be awarded certificates of recognition. We started being awarded certificates of recognition.

He began to be awarded trophies for his achievements. He began being awarded trophies for his achievements.