To Criticise vs Criticising 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 criticise (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to criticise the government's policies.

Criticising (Gerund)

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

Example

Criticising others without constructive feedback is unhelpful.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To criticise (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To criticise is a way to express your opinion.

  To criticise is a way to express your opinion.

  • "*To criticise*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a way to express your opinion).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to criticise her work.

  She wants me to criticise her work.

  • "Me *to criticise* her work" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to criticise* her work).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a platform to criticise the company's actions.

  I need a platform to criticise the company's actions.

  • "*To criticise* the company's actions" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to criticise* the company's actions).

Criticising (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Criticising can be seen as a form of negativity.

  Criticising can be seen as a form of negativity.

  • "*Criticising*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be seen) + noun phrase (a form of negativity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy criticising movies for their artistic elements.

  I enjoy criticising movies for their artistic elements.

  • "*Criticising* movies for their artistic elements" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*criticising* movies for their artistic elements).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for criticising without offending others.

  She has a talent for criticising without offending others.

  • "For *criticising* without offending others" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *criticising* without offending 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

• decide
• attempt
• refuse
• demand
• wish

Example

We decided to criticise the decision made by the board.

He attempted to criticise the new policy during the meeting.

They refused to criticise their colleague's work.

The protesters demand to criticise the government's actions.

I wish to criticise the unfair treatment of workers.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• postpone
• understand

Example

He avoids criticising his teammates in public.

They consider criticising the company's decision.

I recommend criticising constructively for better results.

Let's postpone criticising until we have more information.

I understand the importance of criticising in the creative process.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to criticise people's fashion choices. She likes criticising people's fashion choices.

We started to criticise the new policy. We started criticising the new policy.

He began to criticise the team's performance. He began criticising the team's performance.