To Funnel vs Funneling 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 funnel (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to funnel all the donations to the charity.

Funneling (Gerund)

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

Example

Funneling money into the wrong hands is illegal.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To funnel (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To funnel money into a project requires careful planning.

  To funnel money into a project requires careful planning.

  • "*To funnel* money into a project" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning).
• 2. Object

  They asked me to funnel the information to the team.

  They asked me to funnel the information to the team.

  • "Me *to funnel* the information to the team" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to funnel* the information to the team).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a wide-mouthed container to funnel the liquid.

  We need a wide-mouthed container to funnel the liquid.

  • "*To funnel* the liquid" modifies the noun "container."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a wide-mouthed container *to funnel* the liquid).

Funneling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Funneling funds into unauthorized accounts is a crime.

  Funneling funds into unauthorized accounts is a crime.

  • "*Funneling* funds into unauthorized accounts" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crime).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy funneling resources to those in need.

  I enjoy funneling resources to those in need.

  • "*Funneling* resources to those in need" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*funneling* resources to those in need).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for funneling information effectively.

  She has a talent for funneling information effectively.

  • "For *funneling* information effectively" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *funneling* information effectively).

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
• attempt
• determine
• want

Example

She plans to funnel all the resources into the project.

They decided to funnel their efforts into one goal.

He attempted to funnel the money through offshore accounts.

We determined to funnel the energy towards positive change.

They want to funnel the information to the right people.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• imagine

Example

He avoids funneling money into questionable investments.

They are considering funneling resources towards sustainability.

Experts recommend funneling profits back into the business.

I don't mind funneling my efforts into this project.

Can you imagine funneling all your time into a single hobby?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to funnel all the supplies into one central location. She likes funneling all the supplies into one central location.

We started to funnel our resources towards a common goal. We started funneling our resources towards a common goal.

He began to funnel all the data into a single database. He began funneling all the data into a single database.