To Hit vs Hitting 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 hit (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to hit a home run in the baseball game.

Hitting (Gerund)

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

Example

Hitting a punching bag can be a great way to relieve stress.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To hit (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To hit a baseball requires good hand-eye coordination.

  To hit a baseball requires good hand-eye coordination.

  • "*To hit* a baseball" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (good hand-eye coordination).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to hit the target with accuracy.

  She wants me to hit the target with accuracy.

  • "Me *to hit* the target with accuracy" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to hit* the target with accuracy).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a new bat to hit the ball farther.

  He needs a new bat to hit the ball farther.

  • "*To hit* the ball farther" modifies the noun "bat."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a new bat *to hit* the ball farther).

Hitting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Hitting a baseball requires good hand-eye coordination.

  Hitting a baseball requires good hand-eye coordination.

  • "*Hitting* a baseball" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (good hand-eye coordination).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy hitting a tennis ball against the wall.

  I enjoy hitting a tennis ball against the wall.

  • "*Hitting* a tennis ball against the wall" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*hitting* a tennis ball against the wall).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for hitting home runs.

  He has a talent for hitting home runs.

  • "For *hitting* home runs" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *hitting* home runs).

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 hit the gym after work today.

I hope to hit the jackpot in the lottery.

We want to hit the slopes this winter.

She decided to hit the road and explore new places.

They agreed to hit the books and study together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys hitting golf balls at the driving range.

They recommend practicing hitting a baseball for better performance.

I dislike the idea of hitting someone in anger.

He avoids hitting his thumb with a hammer.

Can you imagine yourself hitting a hole-in-one in golf?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to hit the ball with power. He likes hitting the ball with power.

We started to hit the gym regularly. We started hitting the gym regularly.

She began to hit the punching bag for exercise. She began hitting the punching bag for exercise.