To Coincide vs Coinciding 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 coincide (Infinitive)

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

Example

I hope to coincide my vacation with yours.

Coinciding (Gerund)

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

Example

Coinciding our schedules can be challenging.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To coincide (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To coincide is essential for our plans to work.

  To coincide is essential for our plans to work.

  • "*To coincide*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (essential).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to coincide my schedule with hers.

  She wants me to coincide my schedule with hers.

  • "Me *to coincide* my schedule with hers" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to coincide* my schedule with hers).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a flexible schedule to coincide with my partner's.

  I need a flexible schedule to coincide with my partner's.

  • "*To coincide* with my partner's" modifies the noun "schedule."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a flexible schedule *to coincide* with my partner's).

Coinciding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Coinciding is important for successful collaboration.

  Coinciding is important for successful collaboration.

  • "*Coinciding*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (important).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy coinciding my plans with my friends' plans.

  I enjoy coinciding my plans with my friends' plans.

  • "*Coinciding* my plans with my friends' plans" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*coinciding* my plans with my friends' plans).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for coinciding her interests with trends.

  She has a knack for coinciding her interests with trends.

  • "For *coinciding* her interests with trends" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *coinciding* her interests with trends).

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 coincide their travel dates with the festival.

We hope to coincide our meeting with the CEO's visit.

He wants to coincide his presentation with the product launch.

She decided to coincide her wedding with her birthday.

They agreed to coincide their arrival time with the event start.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• discuss

Example

They enjoy coinciding their travel destinations with local festivals.

Experts recommend coinciding your job search with peak hiring seasons.

He avoids coinciding his vacations with major holidays.

Can you imagine coinciding your project deadline with the team's vacation?

Let's discuss the possibility of coinciding our schedules for the event.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to coincide my plans with yours. I would like coinciding our schedules.

They started to coincide their work shifts. They started coinciding their work shifts.

He began to coincide his travel dates with his friends' trips. He began coinciding his travel dates with his friends' trips.