To Confide vs Confiding 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 confide (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to confide in you with my deepest secrets.

Confiding (Gerund)

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

Example

Confiding in a friend can help alleviate stress.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To confide (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To confide is a sign of trust in a relationship.

  To confide is a sign of trust in a relationship.

  • "*To confide*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a sign of trust in a relationship).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to confide in her about my problems.

  She wants me to confide in her about my problems.

  • "Me *to confide* in her about my problems" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to confide* in her about my problems).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a trustworthy friend to confide in.

  I need a trustworthy friend to confide in.

  • "*To confide* in" modifies the noun "friend."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a trustworthy friend *to confide* in).

Confiding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Confiding in others is an important aspect of building relationships.

  Confiding in others is an important aspect of building relationships.

  • "*Confiding*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important aspect of building relationships).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy confiding in my best friend about my dreams and aspirations.

  I enjoy confiding in my best friend about my dreams and aspirations.

  • "*Confiding* in my best friend about my dreams and aspirations" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*confiding* in my best friend about my dreams and aspirations).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of confiding in others.

  She has a fear of confiding in others.

  • "Of *confiding* in others" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *confiding* in 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

• hope
• want
• choose
• manage
• learn

Example

They hope to confide in each other for support.

He wants to confide in someone he can trust.

We choose to confide in our closest friends.

She managed to confide in her therapist about her struggles.

I learned to confide in myself and trust my own decisions.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• mind
• consider

Example

They recommend confiding in a professional for mental health support.

He avoids confiding in people who gossip.

Can you imagine confiding in a complete stranger?

I don't mind confiding in my close friends.

She considers confiding in her family for advice.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to confide in her sister. She likes confiding in her sister.

We started to confide in each other after years of friendship. We started confiding in each other after years of friendship.

He began to confide in his therapist for emotional support. He began confiding in his therapist for emotional support.