To Effect vs Effecting 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 effect (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to effect positive change in my community.

Effecting (Gerund)

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

Example

Effecting positive change requires collective effort.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To effect (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To effect change, we must take action.

  To effect change, we must take action.

  • "*To effect* change" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (must) + verb phrase (take action).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to effect a solution to the problem.

  She wants me to effect a solution to the problem.

  • "Me *to effect* a solution to the problem" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to effect* a solution to the problem).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a strategy to effect positive outcomes.

  We need a strategy to effect positive outcomes.

  • "*To effect* positive outcomes" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to effect* positive outcomes).

Effecting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Effecting change can be challenging.

  Effecting change can be challenging.

  • "*Effecting* change" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective (challenging).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy effecting positive transformations in people's lives.

  I enjoy effecting positive transformations in people's lives.

  • "*Effecting* positive transformations in people's lives" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*effecting* positive transformations in people's lives).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for effecting real change.

  She has a talent for effecting real change.

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

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 effect significant changes in the organization.

I hope to effect positive change through my actions.

He wants to effect improvements in the education system.

We decided to effect changes in our company's policies.

They agreed to effect a compromise in the negotiations.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy effecting positive changes in their community.

Experts recommend effecting gradual changes for long-term success.

I dislike the idea of effecting negative consequences.

He avoids effecting unnecessary delays in the project.

Can you imagine the impact of effecting positive change in society?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to effect positive change in the world. I would like effecting positive change in the world.

They started to effect changes in their organization. They started effecting changes in their organization.

He began to effect meaningful improvements in his community. He began effecting meaningful improvements in his community.