To Conduct vs Conducting 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 conduct (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to conduct a research study on climate change.

Conducting (Gerund)

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

Example

Conducting research is an essential part of the scientific process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To conduct (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To conduct research requires patience and attention to detail.

  To conduct research requires patience and attention to detail.

  • "*To conduct* research" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to conduct the meeting tomorrow.

  She wants me to conduct the meeting tomorrow.

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

  We need a qualified candidate to conduct the experiment.

  We need a qualified candidate to conduct the experiment.

  • "*To conduct* the experiment" modifies the noun "candidate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a qualified candidate *to conduct* the experiment).

Conducting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Conducting experiments requires careful planning and execution.

  Conducting experiments requires careful planning and execution.

  • "*Conducting* experiments" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning and execution).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy conducting interviews with participants.

  I enjoy conducting interviews with participants.

  • "*Conducting* interviews with participants" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*conducting* interviews with participants).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for conducting orchestras.

  She has a talent for conducting orchestras.

  • "For *conducting* orchestras" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *conducting* orchestras).

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 conduct a survey next month.

I hope to conduct interviews with experts in the field.

He wants to conduct a feasibility study for the project.

We decided to conduct an investigation into the matter.

They agreed to conduct a series of experiments together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys conducting experiments in the lab.

They recommend regular conducting of surveys for accurate data.

I dislike the idea of conducting interviews with strangers.

She avoids conducting experiments without proper equipment.

Can you imagine yourself conducting field research in remote areas?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to conduct business meetings in person. They like conducting business meetings in person.

We started to conduct experiments in the laboratory. We started conducting experiments in the laboratory.

He began to conduct research on a new drug. He began conducting research on a new drug.