To Formulate vs Formulating 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 formulate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to formulate a plan for our project.

Formulating (Gerund)

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

Example

Formulating a hypothesis is an important step in scientific research.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To formulate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To formulate a strategy requires careful analysis.

  To formulate a strategy requires careful analysis.

  • "*To formulate* a strategy" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful analysis).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to formulate the proposal.

  She wants me to formulate the proposal.

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

  We need a clear process to formulate effective policies.

  We need a clear process to formulate effective policies.

  • "*To formulate* effective policies" modifies the noun "process."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a clear process *to formulate* effective policies).

Formulating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Formulating effective policies is crucial for the success of any organization.

  Formulating effective policies is crucial for the success of any organization.

  • "*Formulating* effective policies" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for the success of any organization).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy formulating creative solutions to problems.

  I enjoy formulating creative solutions to problems.

  • "*Formulating* creative solutions to problems" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*formulating* creative solutions to problems).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for formulating persuasive arguments.

  He has a talent for formulating persuasive arguments.

  • "For *formulating* persuasive arguments" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *formulating* persuasive arguments).

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
• hope
• want
• agree

Example

They plan to formulate a new marketing strategy.

We decided to formulate a plan of action.

She hopes to formulate a solution to the problem.

He wants to formulate a budget for the project.

They agreed to formulate a joint proposal.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• postpone
• understand

Example

They recommend formulating a detailed plan before starting a project.

I am considering formulating a new strategy for the company.

She avoids formulating hypotheses without sufficient evidence.

They decided to postpone formulating the budget until next month.

Can you understand the importance of formulating clear objectives?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to formulate ideas and turn them into action. She likes formulating ideas and turning them into action.

We started to formulate a plan for the event. We started formulating a plan for the event.

He began to formulate a strategy for the project. He began formulating a strategy for the project.