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.

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 plants requires patience and care.

  To grow plants requires patience and care.

  • "*To grow* plants" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and care).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to grow flowers in her garden.

  She wants me to grow flowers in her garden.

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

  I need a sunny spot to grow tomatoes.

  I need a sunny spot to grow tomatoes.

  • "*To grow* tomatoes" modifies the noun "spot."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a sunny spot *to grow* tomatoes).

Growing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Growing plants requires regular watering and sunlight.

  Growing plants requires regular watering and sunlight.

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

  I enjoy growing flowers in my backyard.

  I enjoy growing flowers in my backyard.

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

  She has a passion for growing organic vegetables.

  She has a passion for growing organic vegetables.

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

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 grow her own herbs in the backyard.

They hope to grow a beautiful garden this summer.

He wants to grow his own fruit trees.

We decided to grow our own vegetables instead of buying them.

They agreed to grow flowers together in the community garden.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys growing her own herbs and spices.

They recommend growing your own herbs for fresh flavors.

I dislike the idea of growing plants indoors.

He avoids growing plants that require too much maintenance.

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 vegetables. She likes growing her own vegetables.

We started to grow our own herbs and spices. We started growing our own herbs and spices.

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