To Better vs Bettering 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 better (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to better my skills in order to succeed.

Bettering (Gerund)

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

Example

Bettering oneself takes time and effort.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To better (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To better oneself requires dedication and hard work.

  To better oneself requires dedication and hard work.

  • "*To better* oneself" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (dedication and hard work).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to better my performance.

  She wants me to better my performance.

  • "Me *to better* my performance" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to better* my performance).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a mentor to better my skills.

  I need a mentor to better my skills.

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

Bettering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bettering your skills is essential for professional growth.

  Bettering your skills is essential for professional growth.

  • "*Bettering* your skills" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for professional growth).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy bettering my knowledge through reading.

  I enjoy bettering my knowledge through reading.

  • "*Bettering* my knowledge through reading" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bettering* my knowledge through reading).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for bettering herself.

  She has a passion for bettering herself.

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

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

She plans to better her time management skills.

They hope to better their financial situation.

He wants to better his grades in school.

We decided to better our communication skills.

They agreed to better their teamwork abilities.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys bettering her skills through practice.

They recommend continuous bettering for personal development.

I dislike the idea of bettering myself at the expense of others.

He avoids bettering his skills through shortcuts.

Can you imagine yourself bettering your abilities every day?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to better her performance in sports. She likes bettering her performance in sports.

We started to better our financial situation. We started bettering our financial situation.

He began to better his health through exercise. He began bettering his health through exercise.