To Extend vs Extending 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 extend (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to extend my stay in the city to explore more.

Extending (Gerund)

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

Example

Extending the deadline would give us more time to complete the project.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To extend (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To extend the deadline is necessary in this case.

  To extend the deadline is necessary in this case.

  • "*To extend* the deadline" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (necessary).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to extend the invitation to everyone.

  She wants me to extend the invitation to everyone.

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

  We need a ladder to extend our reach.

  We need a ladder to extend our reach.

  • "*To extend* our reach" modifies the noun "ladder."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a ladder *to extend* our reach).

Extending (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Extending the offer is a generous gesture.

  Extending the offer is a generous gesture.

  • "*Extending* the offer" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a generous gesture).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy extending my help to others.

  I enjoy extending my help to others.

  • "*Extending* my help to others" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*extending* my help to others).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a passion for extending his knowledge.

  He has a passion for extending his knowledge.

  • "For *extending* his knowledge" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *extending* his knowledge).

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 extend their vacation by a few days.

He hopes to extend his contract with the company.

She wants to extend her influence in the industry.

We decided to extend the meeting by an hour.

They agreed to extend the deadline for submission.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys extending her gratitude to others.

They recommend extending the project timeline for better results.

I dislike the idea of extending the working hours.

He avoids extending his involvement in unnecessary tasks.

Can you imagine yourself extending your vacation by a week?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to extend her support to charitable organizations. She likes extending her support to charitable organizations.

We started to extend our services to new clients. We started extending our services to new clients.

He began to extend his network by attending networking events. He began extending his network by attending networking events.