To Humanize vs Humanizing 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 humanize (Infinitive)

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

Example

The goal is to humanize technology and make it more accessible.

Humanizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Humanizing technology is a key focus for many companies.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To humanize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To humanize is a challenging task in today's digital age.

  To humanize is a challenging task in today's digital age.

  • "*To humanize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging task in today's digital age).
• 2. Object

  They want us to humanize the customer experience.

  They want us to humanize the customer experience.

  • "Us *to humanize* the customer experience" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to humanize* the customer experience).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a platform to humanize her brand.

  She needs a platform to humanize her brand.

  • "*To humanize* her brand" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a platform *to humanize* her brand).

Humanizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Humanizing the workplace is important for employee satisfaction.

  Humanizing the workplace is important for employee satisfaction.

  • "*Humanizing* the workplace" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important for employee satisfaction).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys humanizing brands through storytelling.

  She enjoys humanizing brands through storytelling.

  • "*Humanizing* brands through storytelling" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*humanizing* brands through storytelling).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are advocates for humanizing the customer experience.

  They are advocates for humanizing the customer experience.

  • "*Humanizing* the customer experience" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are advocates for) + noun phrase (*humanizing* the customer experience).

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

We are planning to humanize our company culture.

I hope to humanize the education system.

He wants to humanize the healthcare industry.

They decided to humanize their marketing strategy.

The team agreed to humanize the user interface.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

He enjoys humanizing processes to improve efficiency.

Experts recommend humanizing communication in virtual meetings.

She avoids humanizing animals for entertainment purposes.

Can you imagine humanizing robots to create companions?

We are considering humanizing our chatbot for better user interaction.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to humanize products to connect with customers. They like humanizing products to connect with customers.

He started to humanize the company's branding strategy. He started humanizing the company's branding strategy.

She began to humanize her leadership approach. She began humanizing her leadership approach.