To Grace vs Gracing 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 grace (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to grace the stage with my presence.

Gracing (Gerund)

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

Example

Gracing the event with her presence, she stole the show.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To grace (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To grace the event is a great honor.

  To grace the event is a great honor.

  • "*To grace* the event" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great honor).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to grace her party with my singing.

  She wants me to grace her party with my singing.

  • "Me *to grace* her party with my singing" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to grace* her party with my singing).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a beautiful gown to grace the occasion.

  I need a beautiful gown to grace the occasion.

  • "*To grace* the occasion" modifies the noun "gown."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a beautiful gown *to grace* the occasion).

Gracing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Gracing the occasion was a privilege for him.

  Gracing the occasion was a privilege for him.

  • "*Gracing* the occasion" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (was) + noun phrase (a privilege for him).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy gracing the dance floor with my moves.

  I enjoy gracing the dance floor with my moves.

  • "*Gracing* the dance floor" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*gracing* the dance floor).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for gracing the runway.

  She has a talent for gracing the runway.

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

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 grace the red carpet at the award ceremony.

They hope to grace the cover of a magazine someday.

He wants to grace the front row at the fashion show.

We decided to grace the event with our presence.

They agreed to grace the stage together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys gracing the stage with her performances.

They recommend gracing the event with live music.

I dislike the idea of gracing the red carpet.

He avoids gracing events that don't align with his values.

Can you imagine yourself gracing the covers of magazines?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to grace important events with her presence. She likes gracing important events with her presence.

We started to grace the fashion industry with our designs. We started gracing the fashion industry with our designs.

He began to grace the theater with his acting skills. He began gracing the theater with his acting skills.