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 company.

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 potential challenges is an important part of project management.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To envisage (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To envisage is essential for strategic planning.

  To envisage is essential for strategic planning.

  • "*To envisage*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (essential for strategic planning).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to envisage the potential risks.

  She wants me to envisage the potential risks.

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

  We need a visionary leader to envisage our future growth.

  We need a visionary leader to envisage our future growth.

  • "*To envisage* our future growth" modifies the noun "leader."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a visionary leader *to envisage* our future growth).

Envisaging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Envisaging the future requires imagination.

  Envisaging the future requires imagination.

  • "*Envisaging* the future" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (imagination).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy envisaging innovative solutions.

  I enjoy envisaging innovative solutions.

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

  She has a talent for envisaging possibilities.

  She has a talent for envisaging possibilities.

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

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 new business opportunities.

I hope to envisage a successful outcome.

He wants to envisage a more sustainable solution.

We decided to envisage a different approach.

They agreed to envisage a collaborative effort.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy envisaging future trends.

Experts recommend envisaging potential obstacles.

I dislike envisaging worst-case scenarios.

He avoids envisaging negative outcomes.

Can you imagine envisaging a world without limitations?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to envisage innovative solutions. I like envisaging innovative solutions.

We started to envisage a new project. We started envisaging a new project.

He began to envisage the potential risks. He began envisaging the potential risks.