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 want to depart early to avoid traffic.

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 on time is essential for a smooth journey.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To depart (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To depart on time is crucial for a successful trip.

  To depart on time is crucial for a successful trip.

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

  She wants me to depart with her.

  She wants me to depart with her.

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

  We need a car to depart at midnight.

  We need a car to depart at midnight.

  • "*To depart* at midnight" modifies the noun "car."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a car *to depart* at midnight).

Departing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Departing early in the morning is necessary for avoiding traffic.

  Departing early in the morning is necessary for avoiding traffic.

  • "*Departing* early in the morning" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (necessary for avoiding traffic).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy departing from different airports.

  I enjoy departing from different airports.

  • "*Departing* from different airports" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*departing* from different airports).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of departing alone.

  She has a fear of departing alone.

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

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 early in the morning.

He hopes to depart on time for the meeting.

She wants to depart with her friends.

We decided to depart from the airport.

They agreed to depart together for the trip.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy departing on spontaneous trips.

I recommend departing early to avoid rush hour.

He dislikes the idea of departing late at night.

She avoids departing during peak travel seasons.

Can you imagine yourself departing to a tropical island?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to depart before sunrise. I like departing before sunrise.

We started to depart from different airports. We started departing from different airports.

He began to depart early for business trips. He began departing early for business trips.