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 opportunity.

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 others brings joy to my heart.

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 her experience.

  She wants me to benefit from her experience.

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

  I need a mentor to benefit my career.

  I need a mentor to benefit my career.

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

Benefiting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Benefiting others is a noble act.

  Benefiting others is a noble act.

  • "*Benefiting* others" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a noble act).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy benefiting the community through volunteering.

  I enjoy benefiting the community through volunteering.

  • "*Benefiting* the community through volunteering" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*benefiting* the community through volunteering).
• 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

• hope
• plan
• decide
• want
• choose

Example

They hope to benefit from this training program.

We plan to benefit from the new technology.

She decided to benefit from the opportunity.

He wants to benefit from the extra practice.

They chose to benefit from the workshop.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• understand

Example

They recommend benefiting from networking opportunities.

He avoids benefiting from other people's misfortunes.

I am considering benefiting from the scholarship program.

Do you mind benefiting others in the process?

I understand the importance of benefiting society.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to benefit from collaboration. She likes benefiting from collaboration.

We started to benefit from the new strategy. We started benefiting from the new strategy.

He began to benefit from the mentorship program. He began benefiting from the mentorship program.