When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To go (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to go" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to go on vacation to relax and unwind.
Going (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "going" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Going for a walk in the park is a refreshing way to start the day.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To go (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To go is his favorite activity on weekends.
To go is his favorite activity on weekends.
- "*To go*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his favorite activity on weekends).
- 2Object
She wants me to go with her to the party.
She wants me to go with her to the party.
- "Me *to go* with her to the party" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to go* with her to the party).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a car to go on road trips.
We need a car to go on road trips.
- "*To go* on road trips" modifies the noun "car."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a car *to go* on road trips).
Going (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Going to the gym regularly improves physical fitness.
Going to the gym regularly improves physical fitness.
- "*Going* to the gym regularly" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (improves) + noun phrase (physical fitness).
- 2Object
I enjoy going to the movies with my friends.
I enjoy going to the movies with my friends.
- "*Going* to the movies with my friends" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*going* to the movies with my friends).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a fear of going alone to new places.
He has a fear of going alone to new places.
- "Of *going* alone to new places" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *going* alone to new places).
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
Example
They plan to go hiking in the mountains next week.
He hopes to go to the concert with his friends.
She wants to go shopping for new clothes.
We decided to go on a road trip across the country.
They agreed to go camping in the forest together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys going for long walks in nature.
They recommend going on vacations to destress and recharge.
I dislike the idea of going to crowded parties.
He avoids going to noisy places.
Can you imagine yourself going on a solo adventure?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to go to the beach in the summer. She likes going to the beach in the summer.
We started to go jogging every morning. We started going jogging every morning.
He began to go to the gym for strength training. He began going to the gym for strength training.
