To Bring vs Bringing 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 bring (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to bring the snacks for the party.

Bringing (Gerund)

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

Example

Bringing a gift is a thoughtful gesture.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To bring (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To bring a gift is customary for special occasions.

  To bring a gift is customary for special occasions.

  • "*To bring* a gift" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a gift).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to bring her coffee in the morning.

  She wants me to bring her coffee in the morning.

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

  I need a bag to bring my books to school.

  I need a bag to bring my books to school.

  • "*To bring* my books to school" modifies the noun "bag."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a bag *to bring* my books to school).

Bringing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Bringing flowers is a common way to express gratitude.

  Bringing flowers is a common way to express gratitude.

  • "*Bringing* flowers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common way to express gratitude).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy bringing joy to others through acts of kindness.

  I enjoy bringing joy to others through acts of kindness.

  • "*Bringing* joy to others through acts of kindness" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bringing* joy to others through acts of kindness).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for bringing people together.

  She has a passion for bringing people together.

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

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 bring her homemade cookies to the party.

They hope to bring their own drinks to the picnic.

He wants to bring his camera to capture the memories.

We decided to bring extra chairs for the guests.

They agreed to bring their favorite board games for game night.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys bringing homemade treats to the office.

They recommend bringing your own reusable bags to reduce plastic waste.

I dislike the idea of bringing pets to the event.

He avoids bringing up controversial topics during family gatherings.

Can you imagine bringing a surprise gift for your loved ones?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to bring her own lunch to work. She likes bringing her own lunch to work.

We started to bring our own water bottles to reduce plastic waste. We started bringing our own water bottles to reduce plastic waste.

He began to bring his laptop to every meeting. He began bringing his laptop to every meeting.