To Expect vs Expecting 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 expect (Infinitive)

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

Example

I expect to win the competition.

Expecting (Gerund)

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

Example

Expecting a promotion, he worked hard all year.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To expect (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To expect is to have a belief or anticipation about something.

  To expect is to have a belief or anticipation about something.

  • "*To expect*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (to have a belief or anticipation about something).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to expect great results from this project.

  She wants me to expect great results from this project.

  • "Me *to expect* great results from this project" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to expect* great results from this project).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a reliable source to expect accurate information.

  We need a reliable source to expect accurate information.

  • "*To expect* accurate information" modifies the noun "source."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable source *to expect* accurate information).

Expecting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Expecting too much can lead to disappointment.

  Expecting too much can lead to disappointment.

  • "*Expecting* too much" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can lead to) + noun phrase (disappointment).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy expecting surprises on my birthday.

  I enjoy expecting surprises on my birthday.

  • "*Expecting* surprises on my birthday" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*expecting* surprises on my birthday).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of expecting perfection from herself.

  She has a habit of expecting perfection from herself.

  • "Of *expecting* perfection from herself" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *expecting* perfection from herself).

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 expect a successful outcome.

He hopes to expect positive feedback from the interview.

She wants to expect the best from her team.

I decided to expect a challenging journey ahead.

We agreed to expect some delays in the delivery.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys expecting good news every day.

They recommend expecting the unexpected in life.

I dislike expecting too much from others.

She avoids expecting immediate results.

Can you imagine expecting a miracle to happen?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to expect a positive outcome. They like expecting surprises.

He started to expect better opportunities. He started expecting positive changes.

She began to expect more from herself. She began expecting great things to happen.