To Graduate vs Graduating 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 graduate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to graduate with honors.

Graduating (Gerund)

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

Example

Graduating is a momentous occasion in one's life.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To graduate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To graduate is a major milestone in one's academic journey.

  To graduate is a major milestone in one's academic journey.

  • "*To graduate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a major milestone in one's academic journey).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to graduate from a prestigious university.

  She wants me to graduate from a prestigious university.

  • "Me *to graduate* from a prestigious university" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to graduate* from a prestigious university).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need good grades to graduate on time.

  I need good grades to graduate on time.

  • "Good grades *to graduate* on time" modifies the noun "grades."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (good grades *to graduate* on time).

Graduating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Graduating requires hard work and dedication.

  Graduating requires hard work and dedication.

  • "*Graduating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (hard work and dedication).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy graduating with my classmates.

  I enjoy graduating with my classmates.

  • "*Graduating* with my classmates" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*graduating* with my classmates).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has mixed feelings about graduating.

  She has mixed feelings about graduating.

  • "About *graduating*" is the object of the preposition "about."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (mixed feelings about *graduating*).

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 graduate with a double major in psychology and sociology.

They hope to graduate at the top of their class.

He wants to graduate with a high GPA.

We decided to graduate early to start our careers.

They agreed to graduate together and celebrate their achievement.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys graduating with honors.

They recommend celebrating accomplishments when graduating.

I am considering graduating early to pursue a job opportunity.

He avoids graduating without a clear career plan.

Can you imagine yourself graduating at the top of your class?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to graduate with distinction. She likes graduating with distinction.

We started to graduate from high school. We started graduating from high school.

He began to graduate with a Bachelor's degree. He began graduating with a Bachelor's degree.