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 experiments is an essential part of scientific research.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To conduct (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To conduct a survey is an important step in gathering data.

  To conduct a survey is an important step in gathering data.

  • "*To conduct* a survey" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in gathering data).
• 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 person to conduct the experiment.

  We need a qualified person to conduct the experiment.

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

Conducting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Conducting surveys helps gather valuable insights.

  Conducting surveys helps gather valuable insights.

  • "*Conducting* surveys" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (gather valuable insights).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy conducting interviews with experts.

  I enjoy conducting interviews with experts.

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

  She has a passion for conducting research.

  She has a passion for conducting research.

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

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 conduct a workshop next month.

They hope to conduct a study on endangered species.

She wants to conduct an interview with the CEO.

We decided to conduct a market analysis.

They agreed to conduct a feasibility study together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

He enjoys conducting experiments in the lab.

They recommend conducting regular performance evaluations.

I avoid conducting business meetings late in the evening.

Can you imagine yourself conducting a symphony orchestra?

We are considering conducting a survey to gather feedback.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to conduct research studies. She likes conducting research studies.

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

He began to conduct interviews for the job applicants. He began conducting interviews for the job applicants.