To Gel vs Gelling 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 gel (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to gel with my new team members.

Gelling (Gerund)

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

Example

Gelling with the team is crucial for success.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To gel (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To gel is essential for a successful team.

  To gel is essential for a successful team.

  • "*To gel*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (essential) + noun (for a successful team).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to gel with the rest of the group.

  She wants me to gel with the rest of the group.

  • "Me *to gel* with the rest of the group" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to gel* with the rest of the group).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a team to gel effectively.

  I need a team to gel effectively.

  • "*To gel* effectively" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a team *to gel* effectively).

Gelling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Gelling with others can lead to productive collaborations.

  Gelling with others can lead to productive collaborations.

  • "*Gelling* with others" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can lead to) + adjective phrase (productive collaborations).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy gelling with different personalities in the workplace.

  I enjoy gelling with different personalities in the workplace.

  • "*Gelling* with different personalities in the workplace" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*gelling* with different personalities in the workplace).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for gelling with diverse teams.

  She has a talent for gelling with diverse teams.

  • "For *gelling* with diverse teams" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *gelling* with diverse teams).

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 gel with her coworkers during the team-building activity.

They hope to gel as a band before their first performance.

He wants to gel with the new project team members.

We decided to gel with the community through volunteer work.

They agreed to gel with the rest of the cast for a cohesive performance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys gelling with her teammates during group projects.

They recommend gelling with the company culture for better integration.

I dislike the idea of gelling with people who have different values.

He avoids gelling with negative influences.

Can you imagine yourself gelling with the new team effortlessly?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to gel with her colleagues. She likes gelling with her colleagues.

We started to gel as a team from day one. We started gelling as a team from day one.

He began to gel with his co-workers after attending team-building exercises. He began gelling with his co-workers after attending team-building exercises.