To Cooperate vs Cooperating 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 cooperate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to cooperate with my team to achieve our goals.

Cooperating (Gerund)

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

Example

Cooperating with others leads to better outcomes.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To cooperate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To cooperate is essential for a successful project.

  To cooperate is essential for a successful project.

  • "*To cooperate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (essential).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to cooperate with her on this task.

  She wants me to cooperate with her on this task.

  • "Me *to cooperate* with her on this task" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to cooperate* with her on this task).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a team to cooperate effectively.

  We need a team to cooperate effectively.

  • "*To cooperate* effectively" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a team *to cooperate* effectively).

Cooperating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Cooperating is crucial for a harmonious work environment.

  Cooperating is crucial for a harmonious work environment.

  • "*Cooperating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (crucial).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy cooperating with my colleagues on projects.

  I enjoy cooperating with my colleagues on projects.

  • "*Cooperating* with my colleagues on projects" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*cooperating* with my colleagues on projects).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a talent for cooperating with diverse teams.

  They have a talent for cooperating with diverse teams.

  • "For *cooperating* with diverse teams" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a talent for *cooperating* with diverse teams).

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 cooperate closely with their partners on the project.

I hope to cooperate with you on this initiative.

He wants to cooperate with the other departments.

We decided to cooperate on the joint venture.

They agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys cooperating with her co-workers on group projects.

Experts recommend cooperating with other professionals in the field.

I dislike the idea of cooperating with unreliable individuals.

He avoids cooperating with people who have a negative attitude.

Can you imagine yourself cooperating with a diverse team?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to cooperate with their competitors. They like cooperating with their competitors.

We started to cooperate on this project. We started cooperating on this project.

He began to cooperate with his colleagues more effectively. He began cooperating with his colleagues more effectively.