To Depict vs Depicting 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 depict (Infinitive)

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

Example

The artist wants to depict the beauty of nature in her paintings.

Depicting (Gerund)

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

Example

Depicting scenes from everyday life is a common theme in impressionist paintings.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To depict (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To depict requires a lot of creativity and skill.

  To depict requires a lot of creativity and skill.

  • "*To depict*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of creativity and skill).
• 2. Object

  She asked me to depict her portrait.

  She asked me to depict her portrait.

  • "Me *to depict* her portrait" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to depict* her portrait).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a larger canvas to depict the entire landscape.

  He needs a larger canvas to depict the entire landscape.

  • "*To depict* the entire landscape" modifies the noun "canvas."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a larger canvas *to depict* the entire landscape).

Depicting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Depicting requires attention to detail and observation skills.

  Depicting requires attention to detail and observation skills.

  • "*Depicting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (attention to detail and observation skills).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy depicting landscapes in my artwork.

  I enjoy depicting landscapes in my artwork.

  • "*Depicting* landscapes in my artwork" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*depicting* landscapes in my artwork).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for depicting historical events.

  She has a passion for depicting historical events.

  • "For *depicting* historical events" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *depicting* historical events).

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

• hope
• want
• decide
• choose
• learn

Example

The author hopes to depict the struggles of the protagonist in her novel.

They want to depict historical events accurately in their documentary.

She decided to depict the city's skyline in her photography project.

He chose to depict emotions through abstract paintings.

We learned to depict human anatomy in our art class.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• imagine
• avoid
• consider

Example

He enjoys depicting people in candid moments.

They recommend depicting emotions through dance.

Can you imagine yourself depicting stories through photography?

She avoids depicting violence in her artwork.

I am considering depicting natural landscapes in my next project.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to depict animals in her paintings. She likes depicting animals in her paintings.

We started to depict portraits professionally. We started depicting portraits professionally.

He began to depict still life compositions. He began depicting still life compositions.