To Deal vs Dealing 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 deal (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to deal with this issue as soon as possible.

Dealing (Gerund)

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

Example

Dealing with difficult customers can be challenging.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To deal (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To deal with difficult customers requires patience and empathy.

  To deal with difficult customers requires patience and empathy.

  • "*To deal* with difficult customers" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and empathy).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to deal with the paperwork.

  She wants me to deal with the paperwork.

  • "Me *to deal* with the paperwork" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to deal* with the paperwork).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a reliable system to deal with customer inquiries.

  We need a reliable system to deal with customer inquiries.

  • "*To deal* with customer inquiries" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable system *to deal* with customer inquiries).

Dealing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Dealing with stressful situations requires resilience.

  Dealing with stressful situations requires resilience.

  • "*Dealing* with stressful situations" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (resilience).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy dealing with different types of people.

  I enjoy dealing with different types of people.

  • "*Dealing* with different types of people" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*dealing* with different types of people).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has experience in dealing with complex issues.

  She has experience in dealing with complex issues.

  • "In *dealing* with complex issues" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *dealing* with complex issues).

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 deal with the issue tomorrow.

They hope to deal with the situation peacefully.

She wants to deal with the problem directly.

We decided to deal with the matter internally.

They agreed to deal with the issue collectively.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys dealing with challenging tasks.

They recommend seeking help when dealing with difficult situations.

I dislike the stress of dealing with unreasonable demands.

She avoids dealing with conflicts whenever possible.

Can you imagine yourself dealing with high-pressure situations?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to deal with new projects. They like dealing with new projects.

He started to deal with the issue immediately. He started dealing with the issue immediately.

We began to deal with the problem proactively. We began dealing with the problem proactively.