To Emigrate vs Emigrating 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 emigrate (Infinitive)

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

Example

They plan to emigrate to another country for better opportunities.

Emigrating (Gerund)

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

Example

Emigrating can be a challenging experience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To emigrate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To emigrate requires careful planning and preparation.

  To emigrate requires careful planning and preparation.

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

  He wants his family to emigrate with him.

  He wants his family to emigrate with him.

  • "His family *to emigrate* with him" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (his family *to emigrate* with him).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a visa to emigrate legally.

  We need a visa to emigrate legally.

  • "*To emigrate* legally" modifies the noun "visa."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a visa *to emigrate* legally).

Emigrating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Emigrating requires careful consideration and adaptation.

  Emigrating requires careful consideration and adaptation.

  • "*Emigrating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful consideration and adaptation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy emigrating to different countries and experiencing new cultures.

  I enjoy emigrating to different countries and experiencing new cultures.

  • "*Emigrating* to different countries and experiencing new cultures" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*emigrating* to different countries and experiencing new cultures).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has always dreamt of emigrating for a better life.

  She has always dreamt of emigrating for a better life.

  • "Of *emigrating* for a better life" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + adverb (always) + verb (dreamt) + preposition (of) + gerund (*emigrating* for a better life).

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

• hope
• want
• decide
• plan
• choose

Example

She hopes to emigrate to a country with a better climate.

He wants to emigrate for a fresh start.

They have decided to emigrate for better career opportunities.

We are planning to emigrate next year.

She chose to emigrate to Canada for a higher standard of living.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• mind

Example

They are considering emigrating to Europe for new opportunities.

Experts recommend researching before emigrating to a new country.

He avoids emigrating without proper documentation.

Can you imagine yourself emigrating to a completely different culture?

I don't mind emigrating if it leads to a better future.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She would like to emigrate to Australia for a change of scenery. She would like emigrating to Australia for a change of scenery.

They started to emigrate after months of planning. They started emigrating after months of planning.

He began to emigrate when he realized the lack of opportunities. He began emigrating when he realized the lack of opportunities.