To Hatch vs Hatching 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 hatch (Infinitive)

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

Example

The eggs need to hatch before the baby birds can come out.

Hatching (Gerund)

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

Example

Hatching takes approximately two weeks for most bird species.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To hatch (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To hatch is a natural process for birds and reptiles.

  To hatch is a natural process for birds and reptiles.

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

  She wants the eggs to hatch soon.

  She wants the eggs to hatch soon.

  • "The eggs *to hatch* soon" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (the eggs *to hatch* soon).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a warm environment to hatch the eggs.

  They need a warm environment to hatch the eggs.

  • "*To hatch* the eggs" modifies the noun "environment."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a warm environment *to hatch* the eggs).

Hatching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Hatching is an important stage in the life cycle of birds.

  Hatching is an important stage in the life cycle of birds.

  • "*Hatching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important stage in the life cycle of birds).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy watching the process of hatching.

  I enjoy watching the process of hatching.

  • "Watching the process of *hatching*" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (watching the process of *hatching*).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a fascination with hatching eggs.

  They have a fascination with hatching eggs.

  • "With *hatching* eggs" is the object of the preposition "with."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a fascination with *hatching* eggs).

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

He plans to hatch the eggs in an incubator.

We hope to hatch a rare species of turtle in our conservation project.

She wants to hatch the chicken eggs herself.

They decided to hatch the duck eggs in an artificial nest.

The researchers agreed to hatch the dinosaur eggs in a controlled environment.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys hatching chicks in her backyard.

Experts recommend providing a suitable environment for hatching.

I dislike the idea of hatching reptile eggs in captivity.

The mother bird avoids disturbing the eggs during hatching.

Can you imagine the excitement of witnessing the hatching of sea turtles?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

Birds like to hatch their eggs in nests. Birds like hatching their eggs in nests.

They started to hatch chicken eggs for their farm. They started hatching chicken eggs for their farm.

He began to hatch the duck eggs in an incubator. He began hatching the duck eggs in an incubator.