To Evade vs Evading 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 evade (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to evade my responsibilities.

Evading (Gerund)

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

Example

Evading responsibility will only lead to more problems.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To evade (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To evade is not a solution to the problem.

  To evade is not a solution to the problem.

  • "*To evade*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a solution to the problem).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to evade the authorities.

  She wants me to evade the authorities.

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

  We need a strategy to evade detection.

  We need a strategy to evade detection.

  • "*To evade* detection" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to evade* detection).

Evading (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Evading responsibility is not a sign of maturity.

  Evading responsibility is not a sign of maturity.

  • "*Evading* responsibility" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a sign of maturity).
• 2. Object

  They enjoy evading difficult questions.

  They enjoy evading difficult questions.

  • "*Evading* difficult questions" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (They) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*evading* difficult questions).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  I have a fear of evading accountability.

  I have a fear of evading accountability.

  • "Of *evading* accountability" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a fear of *evading* accountability).

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
• want
• refuse
• attempt
• choose

Example

They plan to evade capture by hiding in the forest.

He wants to evade punishment for his actions.

I refuse to evade taxes and always pay them on time.

She attempted to evade answering the question.

We chose to evade direct confrontation with our competitors.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• deny
• understand

Example

She avoids evading responsibility by taking ownership of her actions.

Experts recommend evading conflict whenever possible.

I am considering evading the meeting tomorrow.

He denies evading the rules and regulations.

Do you understand the consequences of evading your obligations?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to evade the spotlight. I would like evading the spotlight.

They started to evade capture. They started evading capture.

He began to evade responsibility. He began evading responsibility.