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 want to declare my intentions at the meeting.

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 intentions is important in any negotiation.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To declare (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To declare is a responsibility of the company's CEO.

  To declare is a responsibility of the company's CEO.

  • "*To declare*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a responsibility of the company's CEO).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to declare the results of the survey.

  She wants me to declare the results of the survey.

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

  We need a spokesperson to declare the official statement.

  We need a spokesperson to declare the official statement.

  • "*To declare* the official statement" modifies the noun "spokesperson."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a spokesperson *to declare* the official statement).

Declaring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Declaring your intentions upfront can establish trust.

  Declaring your intentions upfront can establish trust.

  • "*Declaring* your intentions" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can) + noun phrase (trust).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy declaring my opinions on social media.

  I enjoy declaring my opinions on social media.

  • "*Declaring* my opinions on social media" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*declaring* my opinions on social media).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for declaring her emotions through art.

  She has a talent for declaring her emotions through art.

  • "For *declaring* her emotions through art" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *declaring* her emotions through art).

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 declare their candidacy next week.

I hope to declare my love for her one day.

He wants to declare his innocence in court.

We decided to declare a state of emergency.

They agreed to declare their support for the cause.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys declaring his independence from traditional norms.

They recommend declaring your intentions clearly and concisely.

I dislike the act of declaring personal information publicly.

She avoids declaring her political affiliations.

Can you imagine yourself declaring your dreams to the world?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to declare their rights and demands. They like declaring their rights and demands.

He started to declare his candidacy for president. He started declaring his candidacy for president.

We began to declare our intentions at the negotiation table. We began declaring our intentions at the negotiation table.