To Come vs Coming 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 come (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to come to the party tonight.

Coming (Gerund)

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

Example

Coming to the party was a great decision.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To come (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To come early is a good idea.

  To come early is a good idea.

  • "*To come* early" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a good idea).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to come with her to the event.

  She wants me to come with her to the event.

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

  We need a car to come pick us up.

  We need a car to come pick us up.

  • "*To come* pick us up" modifies the noun "car."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a car *to come* pick us up).

Coming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Coming early is important to get a good spot.

  Coming early is important to get a good spot.

  • "*Coming* early" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important to get a good spot).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy coming to these events.

  I enjoy coming to these events.

  • "*Coming* to these events" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*coming* to these events).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of coming to social gatherings.

  She has a fear of coming to social gatherings.

  • "Of *coming* to social gatherings" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *coming* to social gatherings).

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 come early to secure good seats.

He hopes to come to the meeting prepared.

She wants to come to the concert with her friends.

We decided to come to the party dressed in costumes.

They agreed to come to the event together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy coming to parties and celebrating.

I recommend coming to the event early for better seating.

He dislikes coming to crowded places.

She avoids coming to events without proper invitations.

Can you imagine yourself coming to the party dressed as a superhero?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to come to family gatherings. She likes coming to family gatherings.

We started to come to this restaurant regularly. We started coming to this restaurant regularly.

He began to come to the gym every morning. He began coming to the gym every morning.