To Diminish vs Diminishing 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 diminish (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to diminish the amount of waste produced in our company.

Diminishing (Gerund)

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

Example

Diminishing waste is crucial for a sustainable future.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To diminish (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To diminish waste is essential for a sustainable future.

  To diminish waste is essential for a sustainable future.

  • "*To diminish* waste" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (essential for a sustainable future).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to diminish the expenses.

  She wants me to diminish the expenses.

  • "Me *to diminish* the expenses" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to diminish* the expenses).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a strategy to diminish our carbon footprint.

  We need a strategy to diminish our carbon footprint.

  • "*To diminish* our carbon footprint" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to diminish* our carbon footprint).

Diminishing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Diminishing waste requires collective effort.

  Diminishing waste requires collective effort.

  • "*Diminishing* waste" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (collective effort).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy diminishing my ecological footprint.

  I enjoy diminishing my ecological footprint.

  • "*Diminishing* my ecological footprint" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*diminishing* my ecological footprint).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for diminishing food waste.

  She has a passion for diminishing food waste.

  • "For *diminishing* food waste" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *diminishing* food waste).

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

They plan to diminish their energy consumption by using renewable sources.

I hope to diminish the negative impact of our operations on the environment.

He wants to diminish the use of single-use plastics in the office.

We decided to diminish our paper waste by implementing digital processes.

They agreed to diminish their water usage by installing efficient fixtures.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy diminishing their energy consumption through renewable energy sources.

Experts recommend diminishing reliance on fossil fuels for a cleaner environment.

I dislike the idea of diminishing the biodiversity in our ecosystems.

He avoids diminishing the natural resources through sustainable practices.

Can you imagine yourself diminishing your plastic waste to zero?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to diminish her environmental impact. She likes diminishing her environmental impact.

We started to diminish our carbon emissions. We started diminishing our carbon emissions.

He began to diminish the use of harmful chemicals. He began diminishing the use of harmful chemicals.