To Circulate vs Circulating 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 circulate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to circulate the memo to all employees.

Circulating (Gerund)

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

Example

Circulating the petition is an effective way to raise awareness.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To circulate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To circulate the information is crucial for decision-making.

  To circulate the information is crucial for decision-making.

  • "*To circulate* the information" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for decision-making).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to circulate the report to the team.

  She wants me to circulate the report to the team.

  • "Me *to circulate* the report to the team" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to circulate* the report to the team).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a printer to circulate the documents.

  I need a printer to circulate the documents.

  • "*To circulate* the documents" modifies the noun "printer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a printer *to circulate* the documents).

Circulating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Circulating the flyers will attract more attendees.

  Circulating the flyers will attract more attendees.

  • "*Circulating* the flyers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (will attract) + noun phrase (more attendees).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy circulating important information to the team.

  I enjoy circulating important information to the team.

  • "*Circulating* important information to the team" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*circulating* important information to the team).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for circulating news quickly.

  She has a talent for circulating news quickly.

  • "For *circulating* news quickly" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *circulating* news 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
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to circulate the newsletter tomorrow.

They hope to circulate the memo before the meeting.

He wants to circulate the agenda to all participants.

We decided to circulate the survey to gather feedback.

They agreed to circulate the minutes of the meeting.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys circulating the newsletter every month.

They recommend regularly circulating updates to all employees.

I dislike the idea of circulating false information.

He avoids circulating rumors in the office.

Can you imagine yourself circulating the company's latest press release?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to circulate important documents. She likes circulating important documents.

We started to circulate the newsletter. We started circulating the newsletter.

He began to circulate the email to all employees. He began circulating the email to all employees.