To Conserve vs Conserving 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 conserve (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to conserve energy by turning off the lights when I leave the room.

Conserving (Gerund)

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

Example

Conserving water is essential for sustainable living.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To conserve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To conserve is important for environmental sustainability.

  To conserve is important for environmental sustainability.

  • "*To conserve*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for environmental sustainability).
• 2. Object

  She encourages everyone to conserve water.

  She encourages everyone to conserve water.

  • "Everyone *to conserve* water" is the object of the verb "encourages."
  • Noun (She) + verb (encourages) + noun phrase (everyone *to conserve* water).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a system to conserve natural resources.

  We need a system to conserve natural resources.

  • "*To conserve* natural resources" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a system *to conserve* natural resources).

Conserving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Conserving energy reduces carbon emissions.

  Conserving energy reduces carbon emissions.

  • "*Conserving* energy" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (reduces) + noun phrase (carbon emissions).
• 2. Object

  We appreciate your efforts in conserving natural resources.

  We appreciate your efforts in conserving natural resources.

  • "Efforts in *conserving* natural resources" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Pronoun (We) + verb (appreciate) + pronoun (your) + noun phrase (efforts in *conserving* natural resources).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She is passionate about conserving wildlife.

  She is passionate about conserving wildlife.

  • "*Conserving* wildlife" is the object of the preposition "about."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (passionate about *conserving* wildlife).

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 conserve energy by using solar panels.

I hope to conserve enough money for my trip.

He wants to conserve wildlife habitats.

She decided to conserve water by taking shorter showers.

We all agreed to conserve electricity during peak hours.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys conserving energy through sustainable practices.

Experts recommend conserving water during droughts.

I dislike the idea of conserving resources going to waste.

They avoid wasting energy by conserving it.

Can you imagine a world without conserving natural resources?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to conserve energy at home. She likes conserving energy at home.

We started to conserve water in our daily routines. We started conserving water in our daily routines.

He began to conserve electricity by using energy-efficient appliances. He began conserving electricity by using energy-efficient appliances.