To Ensure vs Ensuring 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 ensure (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to ensure that everything is ready for the meeting.

Ensuring (Gerund)

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

Example

Ensuring the safety of our employees is our top priority.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To ensure (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To ensure success, we must work hard.

  To ensure success, we must work hard.

  • "*To ensure* success" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (must work) + adverb (hard).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to ensure the safety of the guests.

  She asked him to ensure the safety of the guests.

  • "Him *to ensure* the safety of the guests" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to ensure* the safety of the guests).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a backup plan to ensure a successful event.

  We need a backup plan to ensure a successful event.

  • "*To ensure* a successful event" modifies the noun "backup plan."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a backup plan *to ensure* a successful event).

Ensuring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Ensuring customer satisfaction is essential for business growth.

  Ensuring customer satisfaction is essential for business growth.

  • "*Ensuring* customer satisfaction" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for business growth).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys ensuring the quality of the products.

  He enjoys ensuring the quality of the products.

  • "*Ensuring* the quality of the products" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*ensuring* the quality of the products).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations.

  They are responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations.

  • "For *ensuring* compliance with regulations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (responsible for *ensuring* compliance with regulations).

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 ensure that all tasks are completed on time.

He hopes to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

She wants to ensure the accuracy of the data.

We decided to ensure equal opportunities for all employees.

They agreed to ensure customer satisfaction.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• postpone
• imagine

Example

We recommend ensuring proper documentation for legal purposes.

He avoids ensuring the privacy of personal information.

She is considering ensuring fair distribution of resources.

They postponed ensuring the completion of the project until next month.

Can you imagine ensuring the safety of thousands of people?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to ensure that all requirements are met. I would like ensuring the success of the event.

They started to ensure the smooth running of operations. They started ensuring customer satisfaction.

We began to ensure a safe working environment. We began ensuring employee well-being.