To Evoke vs Evoking 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 evoke (Infinitive)

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

Example

The painting has the power to evoke strong emotions.

Evoking (Gerund)

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

Example

Evoking emotions is the goal of this film.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To evoke (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To evoke memories is the purpose of this music.

  To evoke memories is the purpose of this music.

  • "*To evoke* memories" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the purpose of this music).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to evoke feelings with my performance.

  She wants me to evoke feelings with my performance.

  • "Me *to evoke* feelings with my performance" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to evoke* feelings with my performance).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a powerful story to evoke empathy.

  I need a powerful story to evoke empathy.

  • "*To evoke* empathy" modifies the noun "story."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a powerful story *to evoke* empathy).

Evoking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Evoking memories can be a powerful tool in storytelling.

  Evoking memories can be a powerful tool in storytelling.

  • "*Evoking* memories" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + noun phrase (a powerful tool in storytelling).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy evoking nostalgia with my photographs.

  I enjoy evoking nostalgia with my photographs.

  • "*Evoking* nostalgia with my photographs" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*evoking* nostalgia with my photographs).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for evoking strong emotions.

  She has a talent for evoking strong emotions.

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

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

She plans to evoke nostalgia with her photography project.

They hope to evoke laughter with their comedy show.

He wants to evoke curiosity in his audience.

We decided to evoke inspiration through our artwork.

They agreed to evoke a sense of wonder in their storytelling.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys evoking curiosity in her artwork.

They recommend evoking empathy in their storytelling.

I dislike the idea of evoking fear in my audience.

He avoids evoking negative emotions in his writing.

Can you imagine the impact of evoking happiness in your viewers?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to evoke a sense of mystery in her paintings. She likes evoking a sense of mystery in her paintings.

We started to evoke emotions through our music. We started evoking emotions through our music.

He began to evoke memories with his photography. He began evoking memories with his photography.