To Critique vs Critiquing 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 critique (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to critique your work to provide constructive feedback.

Critiquing (Gerund)

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

Example

Critiquing is a valuable skill for developing a discerning eye.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To critique (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To critique is an essential skill for art students.

  To critique is an essential skill for art students.

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

  She wants me to critique her presentation.

  She wants me to critique her presentation.

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

  I need a fresh perspective to critique this artwork.

  I need a fresh perspective to critique this artwork.

  • "*To critique* this artwork" modifies the noun "perspective."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a fresh perspective *to critique* this artwork).

Critiquing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Critiquing helps artists grow and refine their craft.

  Critiquing helps artists grow and refine their craft.

  • "*Critiquing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (artists grow and refine their craft).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy critiquing movies with my friends.

  I enjoy critiquing movies with my friends.

  • "*Critiquing* movies with my friends" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*critiquing* movies with my friends).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for critiquing artwork.

  She has a talent for critiquing artwork.

  • "For *critiquing* artwork" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *critiquing* artwork).

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

She plans to critique the film after watching it.

They hope to critique the play during their theater class.

He wants to critique the book before writing his review.

We decided to critique the research findings in our paper.

They agreed to critique each other's essays for improvement.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys critiquing photography exhibitions.

They recommend regular critiquing of one's own writing.

I dislike the act of critiquing others without offering solutions.

He avoids critiquing his own work out of fear of criticism.

Can you imagine yourself critiquing famous paintings in a museum?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to critique literary works. She likes critiquing literary works.

We started to critique each other's presentations. We started critiquing each other's presentations.

He began to critique films as a hobby. He began critiquing films as a hobby.