To Cultivate vs Cultivating 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 cultivate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to cultivate my own vegetables in the garden.

Cultivating (Gerund)

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

Example

Cultivating plants can be a therapeutic activity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To cultivate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To cultivate plants requires patience and dedication.

  To cultivate plants requires patience and dedication.

  • "*To cultivate* plants" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and dedication).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to cultivate the flowers in her backyard.

  She wants me to cultivate the flowers in her backyard.

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

  I need a plot of land to cultivate my crops.

  I need a plot of land to cultivate my crops.

  • "*To cultivate* my crops" modifies the noun "plot of land."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plot of land *to cultivate* my crops).

Cultivating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Cultivating flowers brings joy to many people.

  Cultivating flowers brings joy to many people.

  • "*Cultivating* flowers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (brings) + noun phrase (joy to many people).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy cultivating herbs in my kitchen garden.

  I enjoy cultivating herbs in my kitchen garden.

  • "*Cultivating* herbs in my kitchen garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*cultivating* herbs in my kitchen garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for cultivating exotic plants.

  She has a passion for cultivating exotic plants.

  • "For *cultivating* exotic plants" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *cultivating* exotic plants).

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 cultivate a beautiful flower garden next spring.

They hope to cultivate a bountiful harvest this year.

She wants to cultivate organic fruits and vegetables.

We decided to cultivate herbs in our backyard garden.

They agreed to cultivate a community garden in the neighborhood.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys cultivating bonsai trees as a hobby.

Experts recommend cultivating a variety of crops for a sustainable garden.

I dislike the idea of cultivating plants without proper care.

They avoid cultivating invasive species in their garden.

Can you imagine yourself cultivating a thriving vegetable garden?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to cultivate beautiful flowers in her backyard. She likes cultivating beautiful flowers in her backyard.

We started to cultivate our own herbs and spices. We started cultivating our own herbs and spices.

He began to cultivate a small vegetable patch in his backyard. He began cultivating a small vegetable patch in his backyard.