To Echo vs Echoing 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 echo (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to echo my opinion during the meeting.

Echoing (Gerund)

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

Example

Echoing can be quite eerie in abandoned buildings.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To echo (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To echo is a common phenomenon in large, empty spaces.

  To echo is a common phenomenon in large, empty spaces.

  • "*To echo*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common phenomenon in large, empty spaces).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to echo her sentiments.

  She wants me to echo her sentiments.

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

  I need a microphone to echo my voice throughout the room.

  I need a microphone to echo my voice throughout the room.

  • "*To echo* my voice throughout the room" modifies the noun "microphone."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a microphone *to echo* my voice throughout the room).

Echoing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Echoing is a natural occurrence in certain environments.

  Echoing is a natural occurrence in certain environments.

  • "*Echoing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural occurrence in certain environments).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy echoing my voice in empty rooms.

  I enjoy echoing my voice in empty rooms.

  • "*Echoing* my voice in empty rooms" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*echoing* my voice in empty rooms).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fascination with echoing sounds.

  She has a fascination with echoing sounds.

  • "With *echoing* sounds" is the object of the preposition "with."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fascination with *echoing* sounds).

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 echo her message at the conference.

They hope to echo their thoughts in the auditorium.

He wants to echo his ideas to a larger audience.

We decided to echo our concerns at the town hall meeting.

They agreed to echo their support for the cause.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys echoing her laughter in the mountains.

They recommend echoing your voice in a soundproof room for vocal exercises.

I dislike the eerie feeling of echoing footsteps in empty hallways.

He avoids echoing his thoughts in public places.

Can you imagine the sensation of echoing whispers in a cave?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to echo her words for emphasis. She likes echoing her words for emphasis.

We started to echo our opinions during the discussions. We started echoing our opinions during the discussions.

He began to echo his experiences through his writing. He began echoing his experiences through his writing.