To Breakfast vs Breakfasting 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 breakfast (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to breakfast with my family every morning.

Breakfasting (Gerund)

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

Example

Breakfasting outdoors is a delightful experience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To breakfast (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To breakfast is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

  To breakfast is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

  • "*To breakfast*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of a healthy lifestyle).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to breakfast with her at the cafe.

  She wants me to breakfast with her at the cafe.

  • "Me *to breakfast* with her at the cafe" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to breakfast* with her at the cafe).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a cozy spot to breakfast in the mornings.

  I need a cozy spot to breakfast in the mornings.

  • "*To breakfast* in the mornings" modifies the noun "spot."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a cozy spot *to breakfast* in the mornings).

Breakfasting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Breakfasting is a great way to start the day.

  Breakfasting is a great way to start the day.

  • "*Breakfasting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great way to start the day).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy breakfasting with friends at cafes.

  I enjoy breakfasting with friends at cafes.

  • "*Breakfasting* with friends at cafes" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*breakfasting* with friends at cafes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for breakfasting in nature.

  She has a passion for breakfasting in nature.

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

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 breakfast at the new cafe tomorrow.

They hope to breakfast together on weekends.

He wants to breakfast at the fancy restaurant.

We decided to breakfast at home today.

They agreed to breakfast at the local bakery.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys breakfasting with her family every weekend.

They recommend breakfasting with a balanced meal for better health.

I dislike the idea of breakfasting alone.

He avoids breakfasting in a rush.

Can you imagine yourself breakfasting on a tropical island?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to breakfast at cozy cafes. She likes breakfasting at cozy cafes.

We started to breakfast together as a family. We started breakfasting together as a family.

He began to breakfast early in the morning. He began breakfasting early in the morning.