To Harvest vs Harvesting 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 harvest (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to harvest the crops before the rain comes.

Harvesting (Gerund)

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

Example

Harvesting requires careful timing and attention to detail.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To harvest (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To harvest is a crucial task in farming.

  To harvest is a crucial task in farming.

  • "*To harvest*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crucial task in farming).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to harvest the vegetables.

  She wants me to harvest the vegetables.

  • "Me *to harvest* the vegetables" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to harvest* the vegetables).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a sickle to harvest the wheat.

  I need a sickle to harvest the wheat.

  • "*To harvest* the wheat" modifies the noun "sickle."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a sickle *to harvest* the wheat).

Harvesting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Harvesting is a labor-intensive process.

  Harvesting is a labor-intensive process.

  • "*Harvesting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a labor-intensive process).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy harvesting fresh produce from my garden.

  I enjoy harvesting fresh produce from my garden.

  • "*Harvesting* fresh produce from my garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*harvesting* fresh produce from my garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for harvesting flowers.

  She has a passion for harvesting flowers.

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

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 harvest the fruits next week.

I hope to harvest a bountiful crop this season.

We want to harvest the corn before it spoils.

He decided to harvest the apples early.

The farmers agreed to harvest together to save time.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy harvesting pumpkins during autumn.

Gardeners recommend regular harvesting for optimal yield.

I dislike the process of harvesting wheat by hand.

Farmers avoid harvesting during heavy rains.

Can you imagine yourself harvesting grapes in a vineyard?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to harvest the apples in the orchard. She likes harvesting the apples in the orchard.

We started to harvest our crops early this year. We started harvesting our crops early this year.

He began to harvest the cornfields at sunrise. He began harvesting the cornfields at sunrise.