To Benefit vs Benefiting 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 benefit (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to benefit from this program to improve my skills.

Benefiting (Gerund)

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

Example

Benefiting from this experience is a great opportunity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To benefit (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To benefit is important for personal growth.

  To benefit is important for personal growth.

  • "*To benefit*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for personal growth).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to benefit from this opportunity.

  She wants me to benefit from this opportunity.

  • "Me *to benefit* from this opportunity" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to benefit* from this opportunity).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a mentor to benefit our career development.

  We need a mentor to benefit our career development.

  • "*To benefit* our career development" modifies the noun "mentor."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a mentor *to benefit* our career development).

Benefiting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Benefiting from this course is highly recommended.

  Benefiting from this course is highly recommended.

  • "*Benefiting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (highly recommended).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy benefiting from networking events.

  I enjoy benefiting from networking events.

  • "*Benefiting* from networking events" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*benefiting* from networking events).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for benefiting others.

  She has a passion for benefiting others.

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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

They plan to benefit from this training program.

He hopes to benefit from attending the conference.

We want to benefit from this new technology.

She decided to benefit from taking online courses.

They agreed to benefit from the collaboration.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy benefiting from volunteering activities.

I recommend benefiting from professional development opportunities.

She dislikes the idea of benefiting from someone else's misfortune.

He avoids benefiting from unethical practices.

Can you imagine yourself benefiting from this scholarship?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to benefit from online resources. I like benefiting from online resources.

She started to benefit from regular exercise. She started benefiting from regular exercise.

He began to benefit from meditation. He began benefiting from meditation.