To Believe vs Believing 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 believe (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to believe in the power of positive thinking.

Believing (Gerund)

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

Example

Believing in yourself is the first step towards success.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To believe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To believe is to have faith in something greater than yourself.

  To believe is to have faith in something greater than yourself.

  • "*To believe*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (to have faith in something greater than yourself).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to believe in her abilities.

  She wants me to believe in her abilities.

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

  I need a reason to believe in miracles.

  I need a reason to believe in miracles.

  • "*To believe* in miracles" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reason *to believe* in miracles).

Believing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Believing in yourself is crucial for personal growth.

  Believing in yourself is crucial for personal growth.

  • "*Believing* in yourself" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for personal growth).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy believing in the potential of others.

  I enjoy believing in the potential of others.

  • "*Believing* in the potential of others" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*believing* in the potential of others).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for believing in the power of positivity.

  She has a passion for believing in the power of positivity.

  • "For *believing*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *believing* in the power of positivity).

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

• hope
• want
• decide
• determine
• attempt

Example

They hope to believe in themselves and their dreams.

He wants to believe in the goodness of people.

We decided to believe in second chances.

She determined to believe in her own abilities.

I attempted to believe in the power of positive thinking.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• understand

Example

She enjoys believing in the magic of life.

They recommend believing in yourself and your abilities.

He avoids believing in negative thoughts.

I consider believing in the power of dreams essential for success.

It is important to understand the value of believing in yourself.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to believe in the potential of every individual. She likes believing in the power of positive thinking.

We started to believe in the importance of self-confidence. We started believing in the power of perseverance.

He began to believe in the possibility of achieving his dreams. He began believing in the strength of teamwork.