To Enable vs Enabling 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 enable (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to enable others to reach their full potential.

Enabling (Gerund)

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

Example

Enabling others is a rewarding experience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To enable (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To enable is our primary goal in this project.

  To enable is our primary goal in this project.

  • "*To enable*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (our primary goal in this project).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to enable the new feature.

  She wants me to enable the new feature.

  • "Me *to enable* the new feature" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to enable* the new feature).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a platform to enable seamless communication.

  We need a platform to enable seamless communication.

  • "*To enable* seamless communication" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to enable* seamless communication).

Enabling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Enabling others requires patience and empathy.

  Enabling others requires patience and empathy.

  • "*Enabling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and empathy).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy enabling people to achieve their goals.

  I enjoy enabling people to achieve their goals.

  • "*Enabling* people to achieve their goals" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*enabling* people to achieve their goals).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for enabling positive change.

  She has a passion for enabling positive change.

  • "For *enabling* positive change" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *enabling* positive 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 enable remote work for their employees.

I hope to enable more accessibility to education.

He wants to enable better collaboration among team members.

We decided to enable real-time tracking of shipments.

They agreed to enable automatic updates for the software.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy enabling creativity in the workplace.

Experts recommend enabling two-factor authentication for added security.

I dislike the idea of enabling harmful behavior.

He avoids enabling dependency on others.

Can you imagine yourself enabling equal opportunities for all?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to enable others to achieve their dreams. She likes enabling others to achieve their dreams.

We started to enable seamless integration between systems. We started enabling seamless integration between systems.

He began to enable cross-functional collaboration. He began enabling cross-functional collaboration.