To Envisage vs Envisaging 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 envisage (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to envisage a better future for our children.

Envisaging (Gerund)

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

Example

Envisaging the potential challenges is important for effective planning.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To envisage (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To envisage is to imagine or visualize something.

  To envisage is to imagine or visualize something.

  • "*To envisage*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + infinitive definition (to imagine or visualize something).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to envisage a successful outcome.

  She wants me to envisage a successful outcome.

  • "Me *to envisage* a successful outcome" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to envisage* a successful outcome).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a plan to envisage all possibilities.

  We need a plan to envisage all possibilities.

  • "*To envisage* all possibilities" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to envisage* all possibilities).

Envisaging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Envisaging the future can help us set goals.

  Envisaging the future can help us set goals.

  • "*Envisaging* the future" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can help) + noun phrase (us set goals).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy envisaging different possibilities.

  I enjoy envisaging different possibilities.

  • "*Envisaging* different possibilities" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*envisaging* different possibilities).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for envisaging innovative solutions.

  She has a passion for envisaging innovative solutions.

  • "For *envisaging* innovative solutions" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *envisaging* innovative solutions).

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 envisage a better future for the company.

I hope to envisage a world without poverty.

He wants to envisage new opportunities for growth.

We decided to envisage a different approach.

They agreed to envisage a more sustainable future.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys envisaging future trends.

They recommend envisaging potential risks before making a decision.

I dislike envisaging worst-case scenarios.

She avoids envisaging negative outcomes.

Can you imagine yourself envisaging a world without boundaries?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

We like to envisage a brighter future. We like envisaging new possibilities.

He started to envisage a successful career. He started envisaging his dream job.

They began to envisage a more inclusive society. They began envisaging positive changes.