To Deliver vs Delivering 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 deliver (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to deliver the package to the customer.

Delivering (Gerund)

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

Example

Delivering a great customer experience is our top priority.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To deliver (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To deliver the goods on time is crucial for customer satisfaction.

  To deliver the goods on time is crucial for customer satisfaction.

  • "*To deliver* the goods on time" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (crucial for customer satisfaction).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to deliver the message personally.

  She wants me to deliver the message personally.

  • "Me *to deliver* the message personally" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to deliver* the message personally).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a reliable courier to deliver our products.

  We need a reliable courier to deliver our products.

  • "*To deliver* our products" modifies the noun "courier."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable courier *to deliver* our products).

Delivering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Delivering exceptional service sets us apart from our competitors.

  Delivering exceptional service sets us apart from our competitors.

  • "*Delivering* exceptional service" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (sets) + noun phrase (us apart from our competitors).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy delivering presentations to large audiences.

  I enjoy delivering presentations to large audiences.

  • "*Delivering* presentations to large audiences" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*delivering* presentations to large audiences).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are experts in the art of delivering engaging speeches.

  They are experts in the art of delivering engaging speeches.

  • "In the art of *delivering* engaging speeches" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (experts in the art of *delivering* engaging speeches).

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
• want
• hope
• decide
• offer

Example

He plans to deliver the presentation tomorrow.

They want to deliver the news to the public.

She hopes to deliver the speech without any mistakes.

We decided to deliver the report in person.

The company offered to deliver the product to their doorstep.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• postpone
• imagine

Example

We recommend delivering the package with extra care.

He avoids delivering bad news to clients.

I am considering delivering a keynote address at the conference.

Let's postpone delivering the project until next week.

Can you imagine yourself delivering a TED talk?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to deliver the mail personally. She likes delivering the mail personally.

We started to deliver packages for the company. We started delivering packages for the company.

He began to deliver newspapers early in the morning. He began delivering newspapers early in the morning.