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 a rewarding experience.

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 backyard.

  She wants me to grow flowers in her backyard.

  • "Me *to grow* flowers in her backyard" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to grow* flowers in her backyard).
• 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 time and effort.

  Growing plants requires time and effort.

  • "*Growing* plants" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (time and effort).
• 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 vegetables.

  She has a passion for growing her own vegetables.

  • "For *growing* her own vegetables" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *growing* her own 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 a variety of fruits and vegetables in her garden.

They hope to grow a beautiful flower garden this summer.

He wants to grow his own herbs and spices.

We decided to grow a small orchard in our backyard.

They agreed to grow organic produce for their restaurant.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys growing herbs in her kitchen garden.

They recommend growing organic produce for a healthier lifestyle.

I dislike the idea of growing plants indoors.

He avoids growing plants that require a lot of 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 fruits and vegetables. She likes growing her own fruits and vegetables.

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

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