To Bank vs Banking 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 bank (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to bank my money in a secure institution.

Banking (Gerund)

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

Example

Banking provides convenience and accessibility to manage finances.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To bank (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To bank is a common practice for managing finances.

  To bank is a common practice for managing finances.

  • "*To bank*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice for managing finances).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to bank her money.

  She wants me to bank her money.

  • "Me *to bank* her money" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to bank* her money).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a secure institution to bank my money.

  I need a secure institution to bank my money.

  • "*To bank* my money" modifies the noun "institution."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a secure institution *to bank* my money).

Banking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Banking has become increasingly digital and convenient.

  Banking has become increasingly digital and convenient.

  • "*Banking*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (has become) + adjective phrase (increasingly digital and convenient).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy banking from the comfort of my home.

  I enjoy banking from the comfort of my home.

  • "*Banking* from the comfort of my home" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*banking* from the comfort of my home).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for banking and financial management.

  She has a passion for banking and financial management.

  • "For *banking* and financial management" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *banking* and financial management).

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
• want
• attempt
• refuse

Example

We decided to bank our savings in a high-interest account.

She plans to bank a large sum of money for retirement.

He wants to bank his paycheck electronically.

They attempted to bank their money online, but encountered technical issues.

The bank refused to bank the counterfeit bills.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• imagine

Example

They recommend online banking for easy access to accounts.

He avoids mobile banking due to security concerns.

I am considering a career in investment banking.

Do you mind me banking with a different institution?

Can you imagine banking without physical branches?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to bank at local credit unions. She likes banking at local credit unions.

We started to bank online for convenience. We started banking online for convenience.

He began to bank with a national bank. He began banking with a national bank.