To Germinate vs Germinating 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 germinate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to germinate these seeds to grow my own vegetables.

Germinating (Gerund)

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

Example

Germinating seeds require proper moisture and temperature.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To germinate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To germinate is an essential step in the plant's life cycle.

  To germinate is an essential step in the plant's life cycle.

  • "*To germinate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential step in the plant's life cycle).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to germinate these seeds for her garden.

  She wants me to germinate these seeds for her garden.

  • "Me *to germinate* these seeds for her garden" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to germinate* these seeds for her garden).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a warm and moist environment to germinate the seeds.

  I need a warm and moist environment to germinate the seeds.

  • "*To germinate* the seeds" modifies the noun "environment."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a warm and moist environment *to germinate* the seeds).

Germinating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Germinating seeds need darkness and warmth.

  Germinating seeds need darkness and warmth.

  • "*Germinating* seeds" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (need) + noun phrase (darkness and warmth).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy germinating different types of plants.

  I enjoy germinating different types of plants.

  • "*Germinating* different types of plants" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*germinating* different types of plants).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for germinating seeds.

  She has a passion for germinating seeds.

  • "For *germinating* seeds" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *germinating* seeds).

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 germinate the seeds indoors before transplanting them outside.

They hope to germinate a variety of flowers in their garden.

He wants to germinate the seeds in a greenhouse for better control.

We decided to germinate the seeds using the paper towel method.

They agreed to germinate the seeds together for a community garden.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys germinating seeds in her indoor garden.

They recommend germinating seeds in a seed tray for better control.

I dislike the process of germinating seeds in water.

He avoids germinating seeds in direct sunlight.

Can you imagine yourself germinating rare and exotic plant species?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to germinate plants from seeds. She likes germinating plants from seeds.

We started to germinate our own herbs. We started germinating our own herbs.

He began to germinate the seeds in a seedling tray. He began germinating the seeds in a seedling tray.