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 time.

  To complain is not a productive use of time.

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

  Complaining is not productive.

  • "*Complaining*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not productive).
• 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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

He plans to complain to the company's customer service department.

I hope to complain to the supervisor about the unfair treatment.

They want to complain to the management about the noisy neighbors.

We decided to complain to the landlord about the broken appliances.

The customers agreed to complain to the company's management team.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys complaining about the weather.

They recommend avoiding excessive complaining for a more positive mindset.

I dislike his constant complaining about trivial matters.

She avoids complaining in public.

Can you imagine yourself constantly complaining without taking action?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to complain about their coworkers. They like complaining about their coworkers.

We started to complain about the late deliveries. We started complaining about the late deliveries.

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