To Examine vs Examining 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 examine (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to examine the patient to make a diagnosis.

Examining (Gerund)

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

Example

Examining the crime scene is crucial for gathering evidence.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To examine (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To examine is an important step in the research process.

  To examine is an important step in the research process.

  • "*To examine*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in the research process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to examine the documents.

  She wants me to examine the documents.

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

  He needs a microscope to examine the specimen.

  He needs a microscope to examine the specimen.

  • "*To examine* the specimen" modifies the noun "microscope."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a microscope *to examine* the specimen).

Examining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Examining the patient's symptoms helps in making a diagnosis.

  Examining the patient's symptoms helps in making a diagnosis.

  • "*Examining* the patient's symptoms" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (in making a diagnosis).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy examining works of art at museums.

  I enjoy examining works of art at museums.

  • "*Examining* works of art at museums" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*examining* works of art at museums).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for examining historical artifacts.

  She has a passion for examining historical artifacts.

  • "For *examining* historical artifacts" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *examining* historical artifacts).

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
• decide
• refuse
• wish
• attempt

Example

They plan to examine the evidence thoroughly.

I decided to examine the issue from different angles.

She refused to examine the proposal any further.

We wish to examine the data more closely.

He attempted to examine the problem from a new perspective.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• resist
• understand

Example

He avoids examining sensitive documents without proper authorization.

They recommend regularly examining your financial statements.

I am considering examining the impact of climate change on wildlife.

She resisted examining her own biases in the study.

It is important to understand the purpose of examining the evidence.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to examine intricate details. She likes examining intricate details.

We started to examine the documents together. We started examining the documents together.

He began to examine the experiment results. He began examining the experiment results.