To Foresee vs Foreseeing 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 foresee (Infinitive)

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

Example

I hope to foresee any potential problems before they arise.

Foreseeing (Gerund)

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

Example

Foreseeing potential problems can help prevent them.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To foresee (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To foresee is an important skill for a leader.

  To foresee is an important skill for a leader.

  • "*To foresee*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important skill for a leader).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to foresee the consequences of my actions.

  She wants me to foresee the consequences of my actions.

  • "Me *to foresee* the consequences of my actions" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to foresee* the consequences of my actions).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a crystal ball to foresee the future.

  I need a crystal ball to foresee the future.

  • "*To foresee* the future" modifies the noun "crystal ball."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a crystal ball *to foresee* the future).

Foreseeing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Foreseeing is a valuable skill in business.

  Foreseeing is a valuable skill in business.

  • "*Foreseeing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a valuable skill in business).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy foreseeing future trends in the market.

  I enjoy foreseeing future trends in the market.

  • "*Foreseeing* future trends in the market" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*foreseeing* future trends in the market).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for foreseeing potential problems.

  She has a talent for foreseeing potential problems.

  • "For *foreseeing* potential problems" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *foreseeing* potential problems).

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 foresee any obstacles in the project.

They hope to foresee potential risks in their business plan.

He wants to foresee the outcome of the decision.

We decided to foresee the potential consequences of our actions.

They agreed to foresee any challenges in the process.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine
• understand

Example

They recommend foreseeing potential challenges in advance.

I am considering foreseeing the consequences of my actions.

He avoids foreseeing negative outcomes.

Can you imagine yourself foreseeing future opportunities?

She understands the importance of foreseeing market trends.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to foresee the potential outcomes. I would like foreseeing the potential outcomes.

They started to foresee the potential risks. They started foreseeing the potential risks.

He began to foresee future challenges. He began foreseeing future challenges.