To Beef vs Beefing 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 beef (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to beef up my muscles by lifting weights.

Beefing (Gerund)

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

Example

Beefing up the security will help protect the building.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To beef (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To beef is a popular cooking technique for adding flavor to meat.

  To beef is a popular cooking technique for adding flavor to meat.

  • "*To beef*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a popular cooking technique for adding flavor to meat).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to beef up the team's performance.

  He wants me to beef up the team's performance.

  • "Me *to beef* up the team's performance" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to beef* up the team's performance).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a marinade to beef up the flavor of the steak.

  I need a marinade to beef up the flavor of the steak.

  • "*To beef* up the flavor of the steak" modifies the noun "marinade."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a marinade *to beef* up the flavor of the steak).

Beefing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Beefing up the team's performance is a priority for the coach.

  Beefing up the team's performance is a priority for the coach.

  • "*Beefing* up the team's performance" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a priority for the coach).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy beefing up my pasta dishes with extra spices.

  I enjoy beefing up my pasta dishes with extra spices.

  • "*Beefing* up my pasta dishes with extra spices" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*beefing* up my pasta dishes with extra spices).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for beefing up any party she attends.

  She has a talent for beefing up any party she attends.

  • "For *beefing* up any party she attends" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *beefing* up any party she attends).

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 beef up her resume with additional certifications.

They hope to beef up security measures in the building.

He wants to beef up the company's marketing strategy.

We decided to beef up our savings for a down payment on a house.

They agreed to beef up the team's training program.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys beefing up her social media profiles with interesting content.

They recommend beefing up your knowledge with additional courses.

I dislike the idea of beefing up my workload with more tasks.

He avoids beefing up conflicts in the workplace.

Can you imagine yourself beefing up your public speaking skills?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to beef up her recipes with spices. She likes beefing up her recipes with spices.

We started to beef up security measures after the break-in. We started beefing up security measures after the break-in.

He began to beef up his workout routine for better results. He began beefing up his workout routine for better results.