To Evacuate vs Evacuating 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 evacuate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to evacuate the building in case of an emergency.

Evacuating (Gerund)

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

Example

Evacuating is a crucial step in disaster preparedness.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To evacuate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To evacuate is a necessary precaution during a fire drill.

  To evacuate is a necessary precaution during a fire drill.

  • "*To evacuate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a necessary precaution during a fire drill).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to evacuate the office immediately.

  She wants me to evacuate the office immediately.

  • "Me *to evacuate* the office immediately" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to evacuate* the office immediately).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a clear exit route to evacuate safely.

  We need a clear exit route to evacuate safely.

  • "*To evacuate* safely" modifies the noun "exit route."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a clear exit route *to evacuate* safely).

Evacuating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Evacuating the premises is mandatory during a fire alarm.

  Evacuating the premises is mandatory during a fire alarm.

  • "*Evacuating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (mandatory during a fire alarm).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy evacuating people during emergencies.

  I enjoy evacuating people during emergencies.

  • "*Evacuating* people during emergencies" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*evacuating* people during emergencies).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has experience in evacuating large crowds.

  She has experience in evacuating large crowds.

  • "In *evacuating* large crowds" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *evacuating* large crowds).

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 evacuate the neighborhood during the hurricane.

I hope to evacuate the building before the storm hits.

He wants to evacuate the area as a precautionary measure.

We decided to evacuate the school due to the gas leak.

They agreed to evacuate the building together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider
• resist

Example

They recommend evacuating low-lying areas during floods.

He avoids evacuating without a proper evacuation plan.

Can you imagine yourself evacuating a burning building?

We are considering evacuating the city due to the approaching hurricane.

They resisted evacuating their homes despite the impending danger.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to evacuate the building as soon as possible. I would like evacuating the premises to be a smooth process.

We started to evacuate the area when the alarm sounded. We started evacuating people from the building during the drill.

He began to evacuate the neighborhood during the flood. He began evacuating the area as the storm approached.