To Brighten vs Brightening 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 brighten (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to brighten the room with some colorful artwork.

Brightening (Gerund)

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

Example

Brightening a room can make it feel more inviting.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To brighten (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To brighten a room, you can use light-colored paint.

  To brighten a room, you can use light-colored paint.

  • "*To brighten* a room" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (can use) + noun phrase (light-colored paint).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to brighten her mood.

  She wants me to brighten her mood.

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

  He needs a lamp to brighten his workspace.

  He needs a lamp to brighten his workspace.

  • "*To brighten* his workspace" modifies the noun "lamp."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a lamp *to brighten* his workspace).

Brightening (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Brightening a room requires proper lighting.

  Brightening a room requires proper lighting.

  • "*Brightening* a room" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (proper lighting).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy brightening my home with colorful decorations.

  I enjoy brightening my home with colorful decorations.

  • "*Brightening* my home with colorful decorations" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*brightening* my home with colorful decorations).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for brightening spaces.

  She has a passion for brightening spaces.

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

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 brighten the room with new curtains.

I hope to brighten their day with a surprise gift.

We want to brighten our living room with some fresh flowers.

She decided to brighten the office by painting the walls.

They agreed to brighten the space by adding more lighting.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys brightening his garden with vibrant flowers.

Experts recommend brightening up a room with natural light.

I dislike the idea of brightening a room with fluorescent lights.

They avoid brightening their workspace with harsh colors.

Can you imagine yourself brightening someone's day with a kind gesture?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to brighten her surroundings with cheerful decor. She likes brightening her surroundings with cheerful decor.

We started to brighten the room by rearranging the furniture. We started brightening the room by rearranging the furniture.

He began to brighten his paintings with vibrant colors. He began brightening his paintings with vibrant colors.