To Disapprove vs Disapproving 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 disapprove (Infinitive)

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

Example

I disapprove of his actions and behavior.

Disapproving (Gerund)

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

Example

Disapproving of others' choices can be judgmental.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To disapprove (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To disapprove is not enough, we need to take action.

  To disapprove is not enough, we need to take action.

  • "*To disapprove*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not enough, we need to take action).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to disapprove of her decision.

  She wants me to disapprove of her decision.

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

  I have no reason to disapprove of their relationship.

  I have no reason to disapprove of their relationship.

  • "*To disapprove* of their relationship" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (no reason *to disapprove* of their relationship).

Disapproving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Disapproving is not a productive way to communicate.

  Disapproving is not a productive way to communicate.

  • "*Disapproving*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a productive way to communicate).
• 2. Object

  I dislike disapproving of their lifestyle.

  I dislike disapproving of their lifestyle.

  • "*Disapproving* of their lifestyle" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*disapproving* of their lifestyle).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of disapproving of others' choices.

  She has a habit of disapproving of others' choices.

  • "Of *disapproving* of others' choices" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *disapproving* of others' choices).

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 disapprove of the proposal during the meeting.

We hope to disapprove of the new policy implementation.

He wants to disapprove of their actions publicly.

She decided to disapprove of their behavior.

They agreed to disapprove of the project's budget.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys disapproving of their fashion choices.

They recommend avoiding disapproving of others without understanding their circumstances.

I consider disapproving of their actions unhelpful.

She avoids disapproving of their parenting decisions.

Can you imagine yourself disapproving of someone's life choices?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to disapprove of their choices. She likes disapproving of their choices.

We started to disapprove of their behavior. We started disapproving of their behavior.

He began to disapprove of their actions. He began disapproving of their actions.