To Busk vs Busking 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 busk (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to busk in the city to showcase my musical talent.

Busking (Gerund)

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

Example

Busking is a popular way for street performers to earn money.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To busk (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To busk requires a lot of confidence and skill.

  To busk requires a lot of confidence and skill.

  • "*To busk*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of confidence and skill).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to busk with her in the park.

  She wants me to busk with her in the park.

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

  I need a guitar to busk on the street.

  I need a guitar to busk on the street.

  • "*To busk* on the street" modifies the noun "guitar."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a guitar *to busk* on the street).

Busking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Busking requires talent and charisma.

  Busking requires talent and charisma.

  • "*Busking*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (talent and charisma).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy busking in busy city squares.

  I enjoy busking in busy city squares.

  • "*Busking* in busy city squares" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*busking* in busy city squares).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for busking in different cities.

  She has a passion for busking in different cities.

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

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

• hope
• want
• decide
• choose
• manage

Example

They hope to busk at the local market this weekend.

He wants to busk in front of a big crowd.

We decided to busk in the busy downtown area.

She chose to busk in the park rather than on the sidewalk.

They managed to busk for several hours without taking a break.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

She enjoys busking on the streets of New York.

They recommend regular busking for exposure and experience.

I avoid busking in crowded areas to maintain social distancing.

Can you imagine yourself busking in front of a large audience?

We are considering busking at the local fair this summer.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to busk in busy shopping districts. She likes busking in busy shopping districts.

We started to busk together as a duo. We started busking together as a duo.

He began to busk after learning to play the guitar. He began busking after learning to play the guitar.