To Debrief vs Debriefing 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 debrief (Infinitive)

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

Example

The team decided to debrief after the project was completed.

Debriefing (Gerund)

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

Example

Debriefing is a crucial step in the learning process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To debrief (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To debrief is essential for effective communication within the team.

  To debrief is essential for effective communication within the team.

  • "*To debrief*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (essential for effective communication within the team).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to debrief her on the meeting.

  She asked him to debrief her on the meeting.

  • "Him *to debrief* her on the meeting" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to debrief* her on the meeting).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  He quickly ran to his office to debrief his team.

  He quickly ran to his office to debrief his team.

  • "*To debrief* his team" modifies the noun phrase "to his office."
  • Noun (He) + adverb (quickly) + verb (ran) + noun phrase (to his office *to debrief* his team).

Debriefing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Debriefing helps improve performance and identify areas for growth.

  Debriefing helps improve performance and identify areas for growth.

  • "*Debriefing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (improve performance and identify areas for growth).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy debriefing my team after a challenging project.

  I enjoy debriefing my team after a challenging project.

  • "*Debriefing* my team after a challenging project" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*debriefing* my team after a challenging project).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are in favor of debriefing all participants before making a decision.

  They are in favor of debriefing all participants before making a decision.

  • "In favor of *debriefing* all participants before making a decision" is the object of the preposition "in favor of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + preposition (in favor of) + gerund (*debriefing* all participants before making a decision).

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

They plan to debrief the participants after the event.

I hope to debrief the new employee soon.

She wants to debrief the clients after the presentation.

We decided to debrief the team members individually.

They agreed to debrief the stakeholders at the end of the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• postpone
• mind

Example

Experts recommend regular debriefing for continuous improvement.

She avoids debriefing the team in a negative manner.

We are considering debriefing the clients for their feedback.

They decided to postpone debriefing until the next day.

I don't mind debriefing the participants after the workshop.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to debrief his team in person. He likes debriefing his team in person.

She started to debrief the employees regularly. She started debriefing the employees regularly.

They began to debrief the volunteers after each event. They began debriefing the volunteers after each event.