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 oneself is the key to success.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To believe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To believe is important for personal growth.

  To believe is important for personal growth.

  • "*To believe*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for personal growth).
• 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 strong foundation to believe in myself.

  I need a strong foundation to believe in myself.

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

Believing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Believing in yourself is crucial for achieving your goals.

  Believing in yourself is crucial for achieving your goals.

  • "*Believing* in yourself" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (crucial for achieving your goals).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy believing in the power of positive thinking.

  I enjoy believing in the power of positive thinking.

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

  She has a passion for believing in the potential of others.

  She has a passion for believing in the potential of others.

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

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
• agree
• pretend

Example

They hope to believe in a better future.

He wants to believe in the power of love.

We decided to believe in second chances.

They agreed to believe in the importance of teamwork.

She pretends to believe in magic.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys believing in the beauty of nature.

They recommend believing in oneself for personal growth.

I am considering believing in the power of meditation.

He avoids believing in negative thoughts.

Can you imagine believing in the impossible?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to believe in miracles. She likes believing in miracles.

We started to believe in ourselves. We started believing in ourselves.

He began to believe in the power of dreams. He began believing in the power of dreams.