To Declare vs Declaring 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 declare (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to declare my love for you in front of everyone.

Declaring (Gerund)

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

Example

Declaring your rights is essential for a fair society.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To declare (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To declare is a courageous act.

  To declare is a courageous act.

  • "*To declare*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a courageous act).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to declare my intentions.

  She wants me to declare my intentions.

  • "Me *to declare* my intentions" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to declare* my intentions).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a platform to declare our beliefs.

  We need a platform to declare our beliefs.

  • "*To declare* our beliefs" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to declare* our beliefs).

Declaring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Declaring your opinions is important in a democracy.

  Declaring your opinions is important in a democracy.

  • "*Declaring* your opinions" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important in a democracy).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy declaring my love for you.

  I enjoy declaring my love for you.

  • "*Declaring* my love for you" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*declaring* my love for you).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of declaring her true feelings.

  She has a fear of declaring her true feelings.

  • "Of *declaring* her true feelings" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *declaring* her true feelings).

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

• promise
• decide
• refuse
• plan
• hope

Example

He promises to declare his loyalty to the team.

They decided to declare their independence.

She refused to declare her sources.

We planned to declare our candidacy for the election.

I hope to declare my victory in the competition.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• mind
• consider
• imagine

Example

They recommend declaring your intentions beforehand.

He avoids declaring his income publicly.

I don't mind declaring my preferences.

We are considering declaring bankruptcy.

Can you imagine declaring your rights in court?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to declare her opinions openly. She likes declaring her opinions openly.

We started to declare our intentions from the beginning. We started declaring our intentions from the beginning.

He began to declare his support for the cause. He began declaring his support for the cause.