To Depend vs Depending 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 depend (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to depend on myself to achieve my goals.

Depending (Gerund)

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

Example

Depending on others can be both helpful and frustrating.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To depend (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To depend on others can be risky.

  To depend on others can be risky.

  • "*To depend* on others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective (risky).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to depend on her for support.

  She wants me to depend on her for support.

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

  He needs a stable job to depend on.

  He needs a stable job to depend on.

  • "*To depend* on" modifies the noun "job."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a stable job *to depend* on).

Depending (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Depending on luck is not a reliable strategy.

  Depending on luck is not a reliable strategy.

  • "*Depending* on luck" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a reliable strategy).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy depending on my friends for advice.

  I enjoy depending on my friends for advice.

  • "*Depending* on my friends for advice" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*depending* on my friends for advice).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a fear of depending on others.

  He has a fear of depending on others.

  • "Of *depending* on others" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *depending* on others).

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 depend on their savings during the trip.

I hope to depend on my team for support.

We want to depend on ourselves for success.

He decided to depend on his skills to solve the problem.

She agreed to depend on him for guidance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin
• continue
• prefer

Example

She likes depending on herself for decision-making.

They started depending on technology for communication.

He began depending on his intuition for guidance.

We will continue depending on each other for support.

He prefers depending on his own resources for survival.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• prefer
• try
• begin

Example

I prefer to depend on myself for success. I prefer depending on myself for success.

She will try to depend on her instincts. She will try depending on her instincts.

They began to depend on each other for support. They began depending on each other for support.