To Discourage vs Discouraging 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 discourage (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to discourage you, but this might be a difficult task.

Discouraging (Gerund)

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

Example

Discouraging others is not a productive behavior.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To discourage (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To discourage is not my intention.

  To discourage is not my intention.

  • "*To discourage*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not my intention).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't like me to discourage her dreams.

  She doesn't like me to discourage her dreams.

  • "Me *to discourage* her dreams" is the object of the verb "doesn't like."
  • Noun (She) + verb (doesn't like) + noun phrase (me *to discourage* her dreams).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs some motivation to discourage his laziness.

  He needs some motivation to discourage his laziness.

  • "*To discourage* his laziness" modifies the noun "motivation."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (some motivation *to discourage* his laziness).

Discouraging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Discouraging people won't solve anything.

  Discouraging people won't solve anything.

  • "*Discouraging* people" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (won't solve) + noun phrase (anything).
• 2. Object

  I dislike discouraging others from pursuing their dreams.

  I dislike discouraging others from pursuing their dreams.

  • "*Discouraging* others from pursuing their dreams" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*discouraging* others from pursuing their dreams).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for discouraging negative behavior.

  She has a talent for discouraging negative behavior.

  • "For *discouraging* negative behavior" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *discouraging* negative behavior).

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

• try
• avoid
• hope
• decide
• demand

Example

You should try to discourage bad habits.

They avoid to discourage any negative behavior.

We hope to discourage cheating in exams.

He decided to discourage wasteful spending.

The teacher demands to discourage late submissions.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• recommend
• mind
• postpone
• imagine

Example

They are considering discouraging excessive use of plastic.

Experts recommend discouraging smoking for better health.

Do you mind me discouraging you from taking unnecessary risks?

We should postpone discouraging creativity and innovation.

Can you imagine the consequences of discouraging teamwork?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to discourage others. I don't like discouraging others.

She started to discourage negative behavior. She started discouraging negative behavior.

He began to discourage unhealthy habits. He began discouraging unhealthy habits.