To Copy vs Copying 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 copy (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to copy these documents for the meeting.

Copying (Gerund)

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

Example

Copying documents can be time-consuming.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To copy (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To copy is an essential skill for office work.

  To copy is an essential skill for office work.

  • "*To copy*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential skill for office work).
• 2. Object

  She asked me to copy the files onto a USB drive.

  She asked me to copy the files onto a USB drive.

  • "Me *to copy* the files onto a USB drive" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to copy* the files onto a USB drive).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a photocopier to copy these documents.

  We need a photocopier to copy these documents.

  • "*To copy* these documents" modifies the noun "photocopier."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a photocopier *to copy* these documents).

Copying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Copying is an important part of the printing process.

  Copying is an important part of the printing process.

  • "*Copying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of the printing process).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy copying artworks in my free time.

  I enjoy copying artworks in my free time.

  • "*Copying* artworks in my free time" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*copying* artworks in my free time).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He received a warning for copying someone else's work.

  He received a warning for copying someone else's work.

  • "For *copying* someone else's work" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (received) + noun phrase (a warning for *copying* someone else's work).

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
• want
• decide
• attempt
• refuse

Example

She plans to copy the report before the deadline.

He wants to copy the pictures for his presentation.

They decided to copy the file onto a flash drive.

I attempted to copy the text from the website.

She refused to copy the confidential document.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• mind

Example

She enjoys copying recipes from cookbooks.

They recommend copying important files as a backup.

He avoids copying copyrighted material without permission.

Can you imagine yourself copying famous paintings?

Do you mind copying these notes for me?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to copy documents using a scanner. I like copying documents using a scanner.

They started to copy the files onto the external hard drive. They started copying the files onto the external hard drive.

She began to copy the text onto a blank document. She began copying the text onto a blank document.