To Grow vs Growing 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 grow (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to grow my own vegetables in the garden.

Growing (Gerund)

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

Example

Growing your own food can be rewarding.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To grow (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To grow is a natural process for plants.

  To grow is a natural process for plants.

  • "*To grow*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural process for plants).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to grow flowers in the backyard.

  She wants me to grow flowers in the backyard.

  • "Me *to grow* flowers in the backyard" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to grow* flowers in the backyard).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a larger space to grow our business.

  We need a larger space to grow our business.

  • "*To grow* our business" modifies the noun "space."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a larger space *to grow* our business).

Growing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Growing plants requires patience and care.

  Growing plants requires patience and care.

  • "*Growing* plants" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and care).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy growing flowers in my garden.

  I enjoy growing flowers in my garden.

  • "*Growing* flowers in my garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*growing* flowers in my garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for growing her own food.

  She has a passion for growing her own food.

  • "For *growing* her own food" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *growing* her own food).

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

They plan to grow vegetables in their backyard next year.

I hope to grow a beautiful garden this summer.

He wants to grow his own herbs in the kitchen.

We decided to grow fruit trees in the backyard.

They agreed to grow organic produce on their farm.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys growing vegetables in his backyard.

They recommend growing your own herbs for better flavor.

I dislike the idea of growing plants indoors.

She avoids growing high-maintenance plants.

Can you imagine yourself growing a beautiful flower garden?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to grow her own fruits and vegetables. She likes growing her own fruits and vegetables.

We started to grow our own herbs in pots. We started growing our own herbs in pots.

He began to grow flowers in his backyard. He began growing flowers in his backyard.