To Bow vs Bowing 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 bow (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to bow as a sign of respect.

Bowing (Gerund)

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

Example

Bowing is a traditional way to greet in Japan.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To bow (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To bow is a common practice in many cultures.

  To bow is a common practice in many cultures.

  • "*To bow*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in many cultures).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to bow before entering the temple.

  She wants me to bow before entering the temple.

  • "Me *to bow* before entering the temple" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to bow* before entering the temple).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a proper technique to bow correctly.

  I need a proper technique to bow correctly.

  • "*To bow* correctly" modifies the noun "technique."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a proper technique *to bow* correctly).

Bowing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bowing is a form of showing respect in many Asian countries.

  Bowing is a form of showing respect in many Asian countries.

  • "*Bowing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a form of showing respect in many Asian countries).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy bowing to my elders.

  I enjoy bowing to my elders.

  • "*Bowing* to my elders" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bowing* to my elders).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for bowing gracefully.

  He has a talent for bowing gracefully.

  • "For *bowing* gracefully" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *bowing* gracefully).

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

He plans to bow in front of the audience at the end of his performance.

They hope to bow gracefully during the ceremony.

She wants to bow deeply to show her gratitude.

We decided to bow as a gesture of appreciation.

They agreed to bow together at the end of the play.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys bowing in greeting when she meets new people.

They recommend practicing bowing for cultural understanding.

I dislike the idea of bowing for every little thing.

He avoids bowing excessively to maintain his dignity.

Can you imagine yourself bowing to a king or queen?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to bow before entering a sacred place. She likes bowing before entering a sacred place.

We started to bow as a sign of gratitude. We started bowing as a sign of gratitude.

He began to bow when meeting someone for the first time. He began bowing when meeting someone for the first time.