To Devolve vs Devolving 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 devolve (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to devolve more power to local communities.

Devolving (Gerund)

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

Example

Devolving power to local communities can lead to greater autonomy.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To devolve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To devolve power is a complex process.

  To devolve power is a complex process.

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

  She wants me to devolve more responsibilities to her.

  She wants me to devolve more responsibilities to her.

  • "Me *to devolve* more responsibilities to her" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to devolve* more responsibilities to her).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a system to devolve decision-making power.

  We need a system to devolve decision-making power.

  • "*To devolve* decision-making power" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a system *to devolve* decision-making power).

Devolving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Devolving power requires careful planning and implementation.

  Devolving power requires careful planning and implementation.

  • "*Devolving* power" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning and implementation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy devolving tasks to my team.

  I enjoy devolving tasks to my team.

  • "*Devolving* tasks to my team" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*devolving* tasks to my team).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for devolving authority to local communities.

  She has a passion for devolving authority to local communities.

  • "For *devolving* authority to local communities" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *devolving* authority to local communities).

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
• demand
• decide
• hope
• wish

Example

They plan to devolve authority to local governments.

The citizens demand the government to devolve more power.

The committee decided to devolve decision-making to the members.

He hopes to devolve control to the employees.

I wish to devolve more responsibilities to my team.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• delay
• understand

Example

Experts recommend devolving decision-making power to grassroots organizations.

They are considering devolving control to regional offices.

He avoids devolving responsibilities to his subordinates.

The company decided to delay devolving authority until next year.

It is important to understand the implications of devolving power.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I would like to devolve more resources to local communities. I would like devolving more resources to local communities.

They began to devolve decision-making power to lower-level managers. They began devolving decision-making power to lower-level managers.

We will continue to devolve authority to individual departments. We will continue devolving authority to individual departments.