To Economise vs Economising 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 economise (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to economise on my monthly expenses.

Economising (Gerund)

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

Example

Economising can lead to financial stability.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To economise (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To economise is a smart financial decision.

  To economise is a smart financial decision.

  • "*To economise*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a smart financial decision).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to economise on our grocery bills.

  She wants me to economise on our grocery bills.

  • "Me *to economise* on our grocery bills" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to economise* on our grocery bills).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a budget to economise effectively.

  We need a budget to economise effectively.

  • "*To economise* effectively" modifies the noun "budget."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a budget *to economise* effectively).

Economising (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Economising is essential for saving money.

  Economising is essential for saving money.

  • "*Economising*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (essential for saving money).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy economising on my monthly expenses.

  I enjoy economising on my monthly expenses.

  • "*Economising* on my monthly expenses" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*economising* on my monthly expenses).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for economising effectively.

  She has a talent for economising effectively.

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

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 economise on their vacation expenses.

I hope to economise on my electricity bill this month.

He wants to economise on transportation costs.

We decided to economise on eating out.

They agreed to economise on home renovations.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

He enjoys economising by shopping during sales.

Financial advisors recommend economising for long-term wealth building.

I avoid unnecessary expenses by economising on luxury items.

They consider economising as a lifestyle choice.

Can you imagine yourself economising on your daily expenses?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to economise on my travel expenses. I like economising on my travel expenses.

She started to economise after realizing the importance of saving money. She started economising after realizing the importance of saving money.

They began to economise by cutting down unnecessary subscriptions. They began economising by cutting down unnecessary subscriptions.