To Elope vs Eloping 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 elope (Infinitive)

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

Example

They decided to elope and get married in secret.

Eloping (Gerund)

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

Example

Eloping can be an exciting and adventurous way to get married.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To elope (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To elope requires careful planning and secrecy.

  To elope requires careful planning and secrecy.

  • "*To elope*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning and secrecy).
• 2. Object

  She wants him to elope with her.

  She wants him to elope with her.

  • "Him *to elope* with her" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (him *to elope* with her).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a romantic destination to elope to.

  They need a romantic destination to elope to.

  • "*To elope* to" modifies the noun "destination."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a romantic destination *to elope* to).

Eloping (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Eloping has become a popular alternative to traditional weddings.

  Eloping has become a popular alternative to traditional weddings.

  • "*Eloping*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (has become) + noun phrase (a popular alternative to traditional weddings).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy eloping and having intimate ceremonies.

  I enjoy eloping and having intimate ceremonies.

  • "*Eloping* and having intimate ceremonies" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*eloping* and having intimate ceremonies).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of eloping without her family's approval.

  She has a fear of eloping without her family's approval.

  • "Of *eloping* without her family's approval" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *eloping* without her family's approval).

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 elope to a beautiful island next month.

I hope to elope with my partner someday.

He wants to elope and have a small wedding.

We decided to elope instead of having a traditional wedding.

They agreed to elope and start their new life together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

They enjoy eloping to exotic locations for their weddings.

Many couples recommend eloping for a stress-free wedding experience.

She avoids eloping because she wants a traditional wedding.

They are considering eloping instead of having a big wedding.

Can you imagine eloping and getting married on a mountaintop?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to elope and have a private ceremony. I would like eloping and having a private ceremony.

They started to elope after realizing a big wedding wasn't for them. They started eloping after realizing a big wedding wasn't for them.

We began to elope and celebrate our love in our own way. We began eloping and celebrating our love in our own way.