When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To earn (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to earn" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to earn more money to save for a vacation.
Earning (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "earning" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Earning a living is necessary for survival.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To earn (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To earn is important for financial stability.
To earn is important for financial stability.
- "*To earn*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for financial stability).
- 2Object
She wants me to earn a promotion at work.
She wants me to earn a promotion at work.
- "Me *to earn* a promotion at work" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to earn* a promotion at work).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a degree to earn a higher salary.
He needs a degree to earn a higher salary.
- "*To earn* a higher salary" modifies the noun "degree."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a degree *to earn* a higher salary).
Earning (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Earning money requires hard work and dedication.
Earning money requires hard work and dedication.
- "*Earning* money" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (hard work and dedication).
- 2Object
They enjoy earning rewards through their loyalty program.
They enjoy earning rewards through their loyalty program.
- "*Earning* rewards through their loyalty program" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (They) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*earning* rewards through their loyalty program).
- 3Object of Preposition
He is proud of his accomplishments in earning a high income.
He is proud of his accomplishments in earning a high income.
- "In *earning* a high income" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (is) + noun phrase (proud of his accomplishments in *earning* a high income).
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
Example
They plan to earn enough money to buy a house.
I hope to earn a scholarship for my education.
She wants to earn a raise at her job.
He decided to earn a master's degree in business.
We agreed to earn extra income by starting a side business.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys earning passive income through investments.
Experts recommend diversifying income sources to increase earning potential.
I dislike the idea of earning money through unethical means.
They avoid earning a bad reputation by providing quality services.
Can you imagine yourself earning a six-figure salary?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
He likes to earn extra cash through freelance work. He likes earning extra cash through freelance work.
She started to earn money at a young age. She started earning money at a young age.
We began to earn a steady income after graduating. We began earning a steady income after graduating.
