To Delete vs Deleting 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 delete (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to delete all the unnecessary files from my computer.

Deleting (Gerund)

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

Example

Deleting unwanted files can free up storage space.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To delete (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To delete is an important function in computer programming.

  To delete is an important function in computer programming.

  • "*To delete*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important function in computer programming).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to delete the old emails.

  She wants me to delete the old emails.

  • "Me *to delete* the old emails" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to delete* the old emails).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a software to delete duplicate files.

  I need a software to delete duplicate files.

  • "*To delete* duplicate files" modifies the noun "software."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a software *to delete* duplicate files).

Deleting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Deleting is an essential task in maintaining a clean and organized computer.

  Deleting is an essential task in maintaining a clean and organized computer.

  • "*Deleting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential task in maintaining a clean and organized computer).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy deleting unnecessary files from my computer.

  I enjoy deleting unnecessary files from my computer.

  • "*Deleting* unnecessary files from my computer" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*deleting* unnecessary files from my computer).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a knack for deleting viruses from computers.

  He has a knack for deleting viruses from computers.

  • "For *deleting* viruses from computers" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *deleting* viruses from computers).

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 delete all the unnecessary data from his phone.

They hope to delete the incorrect entries from the database.

She wants to delete the photos that are taking up too much space.

We decided to delete the outdated information from the website.

They agreed to delete the sensitive files to ensure security.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys deleting duplicate files on her laptop.

They recommend regularly deleting temporary internet files.

I dislike the process of deleting unwanted emails.

He avoids accidentally deleting important files.

Can you imagine yourself deleting all your social media accounts?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to delete all the unnecessary files from my computer. I would like deleting all the unnecessary files from my computer.

We started to delete duplicate photos from our gallery. We started deleting duplicate photos from our gallery.

He began to delete old messages from his inbox. He began deleting old messages from his inbox.