To Calculate vs Calculating 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 calculate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to calculate the total cost of the project.

Calculating (Gerund)

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

Example

Calculating complex formulas can be challenging.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To calculate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To calculate requires a good understanding of mathematics.

  To calculate requires a good understanding of mathematics.

  • "*To calculate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a good understanding of mathematics).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to calculate the sales figures.

  She wants me to calculate the sales figures.

  • "Me *to calculate* the sales figures" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to calculate* the sales figures).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a calculator to calculate the equation.

  I need a calculator to calculate the equation.

  • "*To calculate* the equation" modifies the noun "calculator."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a calculator *to calculate* the equation).

Calculating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Calculating requires attention to detail.

  Calculating requires attention to detail.

  • "*Calculating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy calculating math problems.

  I enjoy calculating math problems.

  • "*Calculating* math problems" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*calculating* math problems).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for calculating quickly.

  He has a talent for calculating quickly.

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

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
• decide
• hope
• refuse
• choose

Example

They plan to calculate the budget for next year.

He decided to calculate the average score.

I hope to calculate the correct answer.

She refused to calculate the statistics.

We chose to calculate the data manually.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• mind

Example

They enjoy calculating puzzles and brain teasers.

I recommend calculating your expenses to track your budget.

She avoids calculating complicated equations.

Can you imagine yourself calculating complex algorithms?

Do you mind calculating the tip for the bill?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• try

Example

He likes to calculate mathematical problems. He likes calculating mathematical problems.

We began to calculate the measurements. We began calculating the measurements.

She tried to calculate the equation by hand. She tried calculating the equation by hand.