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 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 crucial for success.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To believe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To believe is a personal choice.

  To believe is a personal choice.

  • "*To believe*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a personal choice).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to believe her story.

  She wants me to believe her story.

  • "Me *to believe* her story" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to believe* her story).
• 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 oneself is the first step towards achieving goals.

  Believing in oneself is the first step towards achieving goals.

  • "*Believing* in oneself" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the first step towards achieving goals).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy believing in the power of dreams.

  I enjoy believing in the power of dreams.

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

  She has a strong belief in believing in oneself.

  She has a strong belief in believing in oneself.

  • "In *believing* in oneself" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a strong belief in *believing* in oneself).

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
• choose
• determine

Example

They hope to believe in themselves and their abilities.

He wants to believe in a brighter future.

We decided to believe in the power of love.

You can choose to believe in yourself.

She determined to believe in second chances.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• understand

Example

She enjoys believing in the magic of possibilities.

They recommend believing in the power of perseverance.

I am considering believing in the concept of destiny.

He avoids believing in negative influences.

Can you understand the importance of believing in yourself?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to believe in miracles. I like believing in miracles.

We started to believe in each other. We started believing in each other.

He began to believe in his own abilities. He began believing in his own abilities.