To Establish vs Establishing 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 establish (Infinitive)

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

Example

We plan to establish a new business in the city.

Establishing (Gerund)

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

Example

Establishing a good reputation takes time and effort.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To establish (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To establish a successful career requires hard work and dedication.

  To establish a successful career requires hard work and dedication.

  • "*To establish* a successful career" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (hard work and dedication).
• 2. Object

  They want us to establish strong relationships with our clients.

  They want us to establish strong relationships with our clients.

  • "Us *to establish* strong relationships with our clients" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to establish* strong relationships with our clients).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a reliable team to establish a successful business.

  She needs a reliable team to establish a successful business.

  • "*To establish* a successful business" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reliable team *to establish* a successful business).

Establishing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Establishing effective communication is essential for teamwork.

  Establishing effective communication is essential for teamwork.

  • "*Establishing* effective communication" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for teamwork).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy establishing connections with new people.

  I enjoy establishing connections with new people.

  • "*Establishing* connections with new people" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*establishing* connections with new people).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for establishing innovative solutions.

  She has a passion for establishing innovative solutions.

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

We plan to establish a new branch in the market.

They hope to establish a partnership with the company.

He wants to establish a strong online presence.

We decided to establish a nonprofit organization.

They agreed to establish a joint venture together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys establishing new business partnerships.

They recommend establishing a strong network for career growth.

I dislike the process of establishing rules and regulations.

He avoids establishing unrealistic expectations.

Can you imagine yourself establishing a successful startup?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to establish her own company. She likes establishing new projects.

We started to establish our presence in the market. We started establishing our brand image.

He began to establish his reputation as an expert. He began establishing his credibility in the industry.