To Draw vs Drawing 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 draw (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to draw a beautiful picture.

Drawing (Gerund)

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

Example

Drawing helps improve hand-eye coordination.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To draw (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To draw is a great way to express your creativity.

  To draw is a great way to express your creativity.

  • "*To draw*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great way to express your creativity).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to draw her portrait.

  She wants me to draw her portrait.

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

  I need a pencil to draw realistic sketches.

  I need a pencil to draw realistic sketches.

  • "*To draw* realistic sketches" modifies the noun "pencil."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a pencil *to draw* realistic sketches).

Drawing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Drawing is a popular hobby for many people.

  Drawing is a popular hobby for many people.

  • "*Drawing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a popular hobby for many people).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy drawing landscapes in my free time.

  I enjoy drawing landscapes in my free time.

  • "*Drawing* landscapes in my free time" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*drawing* landscapes in my free time).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for drawing portraits.

  She has a talent for drawing portraits.

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

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

She plans to draw a landscape for her art project.

They hope to draw portraits of their family members.

He wants to draw cartoons for a comic book.

We decided to draw still life objects for our art class.

They agreed to draw each other's portraits.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys drawing animals and nature scenes.

They recommend regular drawing practice for artistic improvement.

I dislike the idea of drawing people's faces.

He avoids drawing complicated landscapes.

Can you imagine yourself drawing stunning portraits?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to draw still life objects. She likes drawing still life objects.

We started to draw together as a hobby. We started drawing together as a hobby.

He began to draw at a young age. He began drawing at a young age.