To Disappear vs Disappearing 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 disappear (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to disappear from the party without anyone noticing.

Disappearing (Gerund)

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

Example

Disappearing without a trace is his specialty.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To disappear (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To disappear is a mysterious phenomenon.

  To disappear is a mysterious phenomenon.

  • "*To disappear*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a mysterious phenomenon).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to disappear from her life.

  She wants me to disappear from her life.

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

  I need a magic trick to disappear in front of the audience.

  I need a magic trick to disappear in front of the audience.

  • "*To disappear* in front of the audience" modifies the noun "magic trick."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a magic trick *to disappear* in front of the audience).

Disappearing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Disappearing is an art form in magic shows.

  Disappearing is an art form in magic shows.

  • "*Disappearing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an art form in magic shows).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy disappearing into the crowd.

  I enjoy disappearing into the crowd.

  • "*Disappearing* into the crowd" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*disappearing* into the crowd).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of disappearing without a trace.

  She has a fear of disappearing without a trace.

  • "Of *disappearing* without a trace" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *disappearing* without a trace).

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 disappear without a trace.

They hope to disappear from the public eye after their retirement.

She wants to disappear into the wilderness for a while.

We decided to disappear from social media for a month.

They agreed to disappear from the party together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys disappearing into the wilderness for adventure.

They recommend disappearing from the spotlight for a while.

I dislike the idea of disappearing without saying goodbye.

She avoids disappearing from important events.

Can you imagine disappearing into thin air?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to disappear from social gatherings. He likes disappearing from social gatherings.

We started to disappear one by one. We started disappearing one by one.

She began to disappear from the public eye. She began disappearing from the public eye.