To Despair vs Despairing 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 despair (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to despair in difficult times.

Despairing (Gerund)

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

Example

Despairing can lead to feelings of hopelessness.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To despair (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To despair is a natural response to overwhelming circumstances.

  To despair is a natural response to overwhelming circumstances.

  • "*To despair*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural response to overwhelming circumstances).
• 2. Object

  She urged him to despair of his dreams.

  She urged him to despair of his dreams.

  • "Him *to despair* of his dreams" is the object of the verb "urged."
  • Noun (She) + verb (urged) + noun phrase (him *to despair* of his dreams).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs someone to despair with him.

  He needs someone to despair with him.

  • "*To despair* with him" modifies the noun "someone."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (someone *to despair* with him).

Despairing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Despairing is a common reaction to loss or failure.

  Despairing is a common reaction to loss or failure.

  • "*Despairing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common reaction to loss or failure).
• 2. Object

  I dislike despairing over things I can't control.

  I dislike despairing over things I can't control.

  • "*Despairing* over things I can't control" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*despairing* over things I can't control).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of despairing in difficult situations.

  She has a fear of despairing in difficult situations.

  • "Of *despairing* in difficult situations" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *despairing* in difficult situations).

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
• attempt
• decide
• want
• refuse

Example

They hope to despair less and find solutions.

She attempted to despair of her problems.

We decided to despair was not an option.

He wants to despair less and have a positive mindset.

They refuse to despair even in the face of adversity.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• understand

Example

He avoids despairing by focusing on solutions.

They are considering despairing as a last resort.

I recommend seeking help when despairing.

Do you mind despairing in front of others?

I understand the feeling of despairing in tough times.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She doesn't like to despair over small setbacks. She doesn't like despairing over small setbacks.

He began to despair after losing his job. He began despairing after losing his job.

They will continue to despair until they find a solution. They will continue despairing until they find a solution.