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

The success of the project depends on the cooperation of all team members.

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 sometimes lead to disappointment.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To depend (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To depend on others is not always ideal.

  To depend on others is not always ideal.

  • "*To depend* on others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not always ideal).
• 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

  I need a reliable source to depend on for accurate information.

  I need a reliable source to depend on for accurate information.

  • "*To depend* on for accurate information" modifies the noun "source."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable source *to depend* on for accurate information).

Depending (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Depending on someone else is not always reliable.

  Depending on someone else is not always reliable.

  • "*Depending* on someone else" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not always reliable).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy depending on my friends for support.

  I enjoy depending on my friends for support.

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

  She has a fear of depending on others.

  She has a fear of depending on others.

  • "Of *depending* on others" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + 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 experience for the upcoming project.

We hope to depend on the new software for increased efficiency.

He wants to depend on his team for support.

She decided to depend on her own skills to accomplish the task.

They agreed to depend on each other's expertise to complete the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin
• try
• help

Example

He likes depending on his instincts when making decisions.

They started depending on technology for communication.

She began depending on her team for assistance.

We are trying depending on ourselves for the solution.

He helps others by depending on his expertise.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• prefer
• continue
• stop

Example

She prefers to depend on herself for success. She prefers depending on herself for success.

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

He stopped to depend on others for validation. He stopped depending on others for validation.