To Enact vs Enacting 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 enact (Infinitive)

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

Example

The government plans to enact new legislation to protect the environment.

Enacting (Gerund)

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

Example

Enacting laws requires careful consideration of their impact.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To enact (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To enact laws is the responsibility of the legislative branch.

  To enact laws is the responsibility of the legislative branch.

  • "*To enact* laws" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the responsibility of the legislative branch).
• 2. Object

  They want the president to enact the proposed reforms.

  They want the president to enact the proposed reforms.

  • "The president *to enact* the proposed reforms" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (the president *to enact* the proposed reforms).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a mechanism to enact change.

  We need a mechanism to enact change.

  • "*To enact* change" modifies the noun "mechanism."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a mechanism *to enact* change).

Enacting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Enacting laws is a complex process.

  Enacting laws is a complex process.

  • "*Enacting* laws" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a complex process).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys the process of enacting new policies.

  She enjoys the process of enacting new policies.

  • "The process of *enacting* new policies" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (the process of *enacting* new policies).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He is committed to enacting positive change.

  He is committed to enacting positive change.

  • "To *enacting* positive change" is the object of the preposition "to."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (is) + noun phrase (committed to *enacting* 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
• decide
• agree
• determine

Example

The committee plans to enact stricter regulations.

We hope to enact meaningful reforms in the education system.

The board of directors decided to enact a new policy.

The two parties agreed to enact a compromise.

The task force determined to enact safety measures for the workplace.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• recommend
• avoid
• delay
• deny

Example

They are considering enacting stricter regulations.

Experts recommend enacting comprehensive reforms.

The company wants to avoid enacting unnecessary restrictions.

The government decided to delay enacting the new law.

He denied enacting any discriminatory policies.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to enact positive change. I would like enacting positive change.

They started to enact new regulations. They started enacting new regulations.

We began to enact important reforms. We began enacting important reforms.