To Disable vs Disabling 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 disable (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to disable the auto-update feature on my phone.

Disabling (Gerund)

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

Example

Disabling unnecessary services can improve the performance of your device.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To disable (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To disable is a common troubleshooting step for tech issues.

  To disable is a common troubleshooting step for tech issues.

  • "*To disable*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common troubleshooting step for tech issues).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to disable the alarm system.

  She wants me to disable the alarm system.

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

  I need a special tool to disable the security lock.

  I need a special tool to disable the security lock.

  • "*To disable* the security lock" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a special tool *to disable* the security lock).

Disabling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Disabling is an effective way to prevent unauthorized access.

  Disabling is an effective way to prevent unauthorized access.

  • "*Disabling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an effective way to prevent unauthorized access).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy disabling unused apps on my phone.

  I enjoy disabling unused apps on my phone.

  • "*Disabling* unused apps on my phone" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*disabling* unused apps on my phone).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has experience in disabling security systems.

  He has experience in disabling security systems.

  • "In *disabling* security systems" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *disabling* security systems).

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

He plans to disable the notifications on his computer.

They hope to disable the autoplay feature on the website.

She wants to disable the touchpad on her laptop.

We decided to disable the comments section on the blog.

They agreed to disable the guest account on the network.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

She enjoys disabling unnecessary features on her computer.

They recommend regularly disabling unused plugins for website optimization.

I avoid disabling important functions by mistake.

He is considering disabling cookies for privacy reasons.

Can you imagine yourself disabling all social media accounts?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to disable automatic updates. They like disabling automatic updates.

We started to disable unnecessary services. We started disabling unnecessary services.

He began to disable certain features on his phone. He began disabling certain features on his phone.