To Defer vs Deferring 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 defer (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to defer my decision until I have more information.

Deferring (Gerund)

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

Example

Deferring the project will give us more time to prepare.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To defer (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To defer is a common practice in business negotiations.

  To defer is a common practice in business negotiations.

  • "*To defer*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in business negotiations).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to defer the project deadline.

  She wants me to defer the project deadline.

  • "Me *to defer* the project deadline" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to defer* the project deadline).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need more time to defer the decision.

  We need more time to defer the decision.

  • "*To defer* the decision" modifies the noun "time."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (more time *to defer* the decision).

Deferring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Deferring the decision is a wise move.

  Deferring the decision is a wise move.

  • "*Deferring* the decision" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a wise move).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy deferring tasks until the last minute.

  I enjoy deferring tasks until the last minute.

  • "*Deferring* tasks until the last minute" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*deferring* tasks until the last minute).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of deferring important decisions.

  She has a habit of deferring important decisions.

  • "Of *deferring* important decisions" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *deferring* important decisions).

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 defer the meeting until next week.

I hope to defer the payment for another month.

He wants to defer his vacation until next year.

We decided to defer the implementation of the new system.

They agreed to defer the decision until further notice.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• postpone
• avoid
• delay
• imagine

Example

They recommend deferring the project launch date.

We are considering deferring the event due to bad weather.

He avoids deferring responsibilities to others.

The company decided to defer the project, delaying its completion.

Can you imagine deferring your dreams for someone else's sake?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to defer important decisions. She likes deferring important decisions.

We started to defer the payment until next month. We started deferring the payment until next month.

He began to defer his retirement plans. He began deferring his retirement plans.