To Complain vs Complaining 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 complain (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to complain about the poor service I received.

Complaining (Gerund)

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

Example

Complaining won't solve the problem.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To complain (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To complain is not a productive use of your time.

  To complain is not a productive use of your time.

  • "*To complain*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a productive use of your time).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to complain to the manager.

  She wants me to complain to the manager.

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

  I need a platform to complain about this issue.

  I need a platform to complain about this issue.

  • "*To complain* about this issue" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to complain* about this issue).

Complaining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Complaining is not a productive use of your time.

  Complaining is not a productive use of your time.

  • "*Complaining*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a productive use of your time).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy complaining about bad movies.

  I enjoy complaining about bad movies.

  • "*Complaining* about bad movies" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*complaining* about bad movies).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of complaining about everything.

  She has a habit of complaining about everything.

  • "Of *complaining* about everything" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *complaining* about everything).

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

• demand
• refuse
• pretend
• choose
• manage

Example

He demanded to complain to the supervisor.

They refused to complain about the quality of the product.

She pretended to complain to get a refund.

We chose to complain to the company's customer service department.

They managed to complain about the delay in delivery.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• postpone

Example

He avoids complaining in public.

They recommend complaining directly to the company.

Do you mind complaining to the manager on my behalf?

She considered complaining to the authorities.

We postponed complaining until we had more evidence.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to complain about the food at that restaurant. He likes complaining about the food at that restaurant.

We started to complain about the noise from the construction site. We started complaining about the noise from the construction site.

She began to complain about the unfair treatment. She began complaining about the unfair treatment.