To Exclude vs Excluding 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 exclude (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to exclude him from the team because of his behavior.

Excluding (Gerund)

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

Example

Excluding him from the team is the best decision.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To exclude (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To exclude someone is not a solution to the problem.

  To exclude someone is not a solution to the problem.

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

  She asked me to exclude him from the meeting.

  She asked me to exclude him from the meeting.

  • "Me *to exclude* him from the meeting" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to exclude* him from the meeting).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a criteria to exclude unqualified candidates.

  We need a criteria to exclude unqualified candidates.

  • "*To exclude* unqualified candidates" modifies the noun "criteria."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a criteria *to exclude* unqualified candidates).

Excluding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Excluding certain foods from your diet can help with weight loss.

  Excluding certain foods from your diet can help with weight loss.

  • "*Excluding* certain foods" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can help) + noun phrase (with weight loss).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy excluding distractions while studying.

  I enjoy excluding distractions while studying.

  • "*Excluding* distractions while studying" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*excluding* distractions while studying).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are considering excluding him from the event.

  They are considering excluding him from the event.

  • "*Excluding* him from the event" is the object of the preposition "from."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are considering) + noun phrase (*excluding* him from the event).

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
• decide
• determine
• wish

Example

He plans to exclude certain items from the budget.

They hope to exclude unnecessary details from the report.

We decided to exclude him from the project.

The committee determined to exclude controversial topics from the discussion.

She wishes to exclude herself from the argument.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• imagine

Example

She avoids excluding anyone from the discussion.

They recommend excluding sugary drinks from your diet.

Do you mind excluding him from the guest list?

We are considering excluding that option from our plan.

Can you imagine excluding yourself from the party?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to exclude him from the team. I would like excluding him from the team.

They started to exclude certain members from the club. They started excluding certain members from the club.

He began to exclude specific details from the report. He began excluding specific details from the report.