To Criticize vs Criticizing 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 criticize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to criticize the government's policies.

Criticizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Criticizing others constantly can damage relationships.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To criticize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To criticize is an important part of democracy.

  To criticize is an important part of democracy.

  • "*To criticize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of democracy).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to criticize her work.

  She wants me to criticize her work.

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

  We need a platform to criticize the current system.

  We need a platform to criticize the current system.

  • "*To criticize* the current system" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to criticize* the current system).

Criticizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Criticizing is not always constructive.

  Criticizing is not always constructive.

  • "*Criticizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not always constructive).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy criticizing movies for their plot holes.

  I enjoy criticizing movies for their plot holes.

  • "*Criticizing* movies for their plot holes" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*criticizing* movies for their plot holes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for criticizing without being mean.

  She has a talent for criticizing without being mean.

  • "For *criticizing* without being mean" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *criticizing* without being mean).

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

He plans to criticize the company's decision in the meeting.

They hope to criticize the new policy publicly.

She wants to criticize the book for its inaccuracies.

We decided to criticize the government's actions in our article.

They agreed to criticize the movie for its poor acting.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys criticizing his colleagues' ideas during meetings.

They recommend constructive criticizing for personal growth.

I dislike criticizing others in public.

She avoids criticizing her friends' choices.

Can you imagine yourself constantly criticizing your loved ones?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to criticize the media for biased reporting. I like criticizing the media for biased reporting.

He started to criticize the company's management. He started criticizing the company's management.

We began to criticize the government's policies. We began criticizing the government's policies.