To Game vs Gaming 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 game (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to game all night with my friends.

Gaming (Gerund)

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

Example

Gaming can be addictive if not done in moderation.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To game (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To game is a popular hobby among young people.

  To game is a popular hobby among young people.

  • "*To game*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a popular hobby among young people).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to game with her this weekend.

  She wants me to game with her this weekend.

  • "Me *to game* with her this weekend" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to game* with her this weekend).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a powerful computer to game smoothly.

  I need a powerful computer to game smoothly.

  • "*To game* smoothly" modifies the noun "computer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a powerful computer *to game* smoothly).

Gaming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Gaming has become a billion-dollar industry.

  Gaming has become a billion-dollar industry.

  • "*Gaming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (has become) + noun phrase (a billion-dollar industry).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy gaming with my friends.

  I enjoy gaming with my friends.

  • "*Gaming* with my friends" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*gaming* with my friends).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He spends most of his free time gaming.

  He spends most of his free time gaming.

  • "Most of his free time *gaming*" is the object of the preposition "spends."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (spends) + noun phrase (most of his free time *gaming*).

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

• decide
• plan
• hope
• refuse
• want

Example

We decided to game together this evening.

She plans to game for hours on her day off.

They hope to game competitively in the future.

He refuses to game with strangers online.

I want to game on the new console.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• resist

Example

She enjoys gaming on her computer.

They avoid gaming late at night.

Experts recommend limiting gaming time for children.

I am considering gaming as a career option.

He couldn't resist gaming on his new console.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to game on their smartphones. They like gaming on their smartphones.

We started to game together as a team. We started gaming together as a team.

He began to game competitively last year. He began gaming competitively last year.