To Compensate vs Compensating 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 compensate (Infinitive)

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

Example

The company agreed to compensate the employees for their overtime work.

Compensating (Gerund)

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

Example

Compensating the employees is the fair thing to do.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To compensate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To compensate is the right thing to do in this situation.

  To compensate is the right thing to do in this situation.

  • "*To compensate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the right thing to do).
• 2. Object

  She wants him to compensate her for the damages.

  She wants him to compensate her for the damages.

  • "Him *to compensate* her for the damages" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (him *to compensate* her for the damages).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a solution to compensate for the loss.

  They need a solution to compensate for the loss.

  • "*To compensate* for the loss" modifies the noun "solution."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a solution *to compensate* for the loss).

Compensating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Compensating the employees should be a priority.

  Compensating the employees should be a priority.

  • "*Compensating* the employees" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (should be) + noun phrase (a priority).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy compensating my team members for their hard work.

  I enjoy compensating my team members for their hard work.

  • "*Compensating* my team members for their hard work" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*compensating* my team members for their hard work).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for compensating others.

  She has a knack for compensating others.

  • "For *compensating* others" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *compensating* others).

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

• agree
• decide
• promise
• demand
• refuse

Example

We agreed to compensate the affected customers with a full refund.

He decided to compensate his employees with a bonus.

The company promised to compensate the customers for any inconvenience caused.

The workers demanded their employer to compensate them for the unpaid overtime.

The insurance company refused to compensate the policyholder for the damages.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• mind
• delay

Example

He avoids compensating his employees for their extra efforts.

They recommend compensating the customers for the inconvenience caused.

We are considering compensating the affected parties for their losses.

I don't mind compensating you for your time and effort.

The company decided to delay compensating the workers until next month.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She would like to compensate the customers for their loyalty. She would like compensating the customers for their loyalty.

They started to compensate their employees for working overtime. They started compensating their employees for working overtime.

He began to compensate the affected parties for their losses. He began compensating the affected parties for their losses.