To Deprive vs Depriving 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 deprive (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to deprive you of the opportunity to succeed.

Depriving (Gerund)

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

Example

Depriving someone of their rights is unjust.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To deprive (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To deprive someone of their rights is unjust.

  To deprive someone of their rights is unjust.

  • "*To deprive* someone of their rights" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (unjust).
• 2. Object

  She asked me not to deprive her of the chance to prove herself.

  She asked me not to deprive her of the chance to prove herself.

  • "Me not *to deprive* her of the chance to prove herself" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me not *to deprive* her of the chance to prove herself).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  He worked hard to deprive himself of any excuses.

  He worked hard to deprive himself of any excuses.

  • "Hard *to deprive* himself of any excuses" modifies the verb "worked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (worked) + adverb phrase (hard *to deprive* himself of any excuses).

Depriving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Depriving others of opportunities is unfair.

  Depriving others of opportunities is unfair.

  • "*Depriving* others of opportunities" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (unfair).
• 2. Object

  I regret depriving her of a chance to explain herself.

  I regret depriving her of a chance to explain herself.

  • "*Depriving* her of a chance to explain herself" is the object of the verb "regret."
  • Noun (I) + verb (regret) + gerund (*depriving* her of a chance to explain herself).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a history of depriving people of their basic needs.

  He has a history of depriving people of their basic needs.

  • "Of *depriving* people of their basic needs" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a history of *depriving* people of their basic needs).

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

• refuse
• attempt
• struggle
• demand
• wish

Example

They refused to deprive him of his freedom.

She attempted to deprive him of his happiness.

He struggled to deprive himself of unhealthy habits.

They demanded to deprive her of her inheritance.

I wish to deprive you of any disappointment.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• deny
• understand

Example

She avoids depriving others of their happiness.

They are considering depriving him of his privileges.

I recommend depriving yourself of negative influences.

He denied depriving them of their rights.

I understand depriving oneself of certain pleasures for a greater purpose.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to deprive others of their freedom. I don't like depriving others of their freedom.

She started to deprive herself of unnecessary expenses. She started depriving herself of unnecessary expenses.

He began to deprive himself of unhealthy habits. He began depriving himself of unhealthy habits.