To Detach vs Detaching 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 detach (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to detach myself from negative influences.

Detaching (Gerund)

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

Example

Detaching oneself from toxic people is crucial for personal growth.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To detach (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To detach is a difficult process.

  To detach is a difficult process.

  • "*To detach*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a difficult process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to detach from toxic relationships.

  She wants me to detach from toxic relationships.

  • "Me *to detach* from toxic relationships" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to detach* from toxic relationships).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a quiet space to detach from the world.

  I need a quiet space to detach from the world.

  • "*To detach* from the world" modifies the noun "space."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a quiet space *to detach* from the world).

Detaching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Detaching from negative influences can be challenging.

  Detaching from negative influences can be challenging.

  • "*Detaching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective (challenging).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy detaching from my worries through meditation.

  I enjoy detaching from my worries through meditation.

  • "*Detaching* from my worries through meditation" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*detaching* from my worries through meditation).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for detaching herself from emotional situations.

  She has a talent for detaching herself from emotional situations.

  • "For *detaching* herself from emotional situations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *detaching* herself from emotional 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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to detach from social media for a month.

They hope to detach themselves from material possessions.

He wants to detach from work stress and find inner peace.

We decided to detach ourselves from negative thoughts.

They agreed to detach from their past and focus on the future.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys detaching from the chaos of everyday life.

They recommend regularly detaching from technology to reduce stress.

I dislike the feeling of detaching from reality during a long flight.

He avoids detaching himself from responsibilities.

Can you imagine yourself detaching from negative thoughts and embracing positivity?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to detach herself from toxic relationships. She likes detaching herself from toxic relationships.

We started to detach from negative habits. We started detaching from negative habits.

He began to detach himself from toxic people. He began detaching himself from toxic people.