To Depart vs Departing 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 depart (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to depart early in the morning for my trip.

Departing (Gerund)

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

Example

Departing from familiar surroundings can be challenging.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To depart (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To depart on time is crucial for a successful journey.

  To depart on time is crucial for a successful journey.

  • "*To depart* on time" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (crucial for a successful journey).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to depart before sunset.

  She wants me to depart before sunset.

  • "Me *to depart* before sunset" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to depart* before sunset).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a reliable vehicle to depart on our road trip.

  We need a reliable vehicle to depart on our road trip.

  • "*To depart* on our road trip" modifies the noun "vehicle."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable vehicle *to depart* on our road trip).

Departing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Departing from home is never easy.

  Departing from home is never easy.

  • "*Departing* from home" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adverb phrase (never easy).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy departing on new adventures.

  I enjoy departing on new adventures.

  • "*Departing* on new adventures" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*departing* on new adventures).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of departing from her comfort zone.

  She has a fear of departing from her comfort zone.

  • "Of *departing* from her comfort zone" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *departing* from her comfort zone).

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 depart together for their vacation.

I hope to depart on time to catch my flight.

He wants to depart early in the morning.

We decided to depart by train instead of bus.

They agreed to depart at noon.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy departing on spontaneous trips.

I recommend departing early to avoid traffic.

He dislikes the idea of departing without proper planning.

We avoid departing during peak hours.

Can you imagine yourself departing to a foreign country?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to depart on solo journeys. She likes departing on solo journeys.

We started to depart together for our adventures. We started departing together for our adventures.

He began to depart earlier than usual. He began departing earlier than usual.