To Hurry vs Hurrying 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 hurry (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to hurry if I want to catch the train.

Hurrying (Gerund)

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

Example

Hurrying only leads to mistakes.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To hurry (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To hurry is important when you're running late.

  To hurry is important when you're running late.

  • "*To hurry*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (important).
• 2. Object

  She asked me to hurry up.

  She asked me to hurry up.

  • "Me *to hurry* up" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to hurry* up).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  I walked fast to hurry to the meeting.

  I walked fast to hurry to the meeting.

  • "*To hurry* to the meeting" modifies the verb "walked."
  • Noun (I) + verb (walked) + adverb (fast) + infinitive phrase (to hurry to the meeting).

Hurrying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Hurrying can cause accidents.

  Hurrying can cause accidents.

  • "*Hurrying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can cause) + noun (accidents).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy hurrying through the busy streets.

  I enjoy hurrying through the busy streets.

  • "*Hurrying* through the busy streets" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*hurrying* through the busy streets).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He apologized for hurrying and making mistakes.

  He apologized for hurrying and making mistakes.

  • "For *hurrying* and making mistakes" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun (He) + verb (apologized) + preposition (for) + gerund (*hurrying* and making mistakes).

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
• want
• hope
• decide
• choose

Example

He plans to hurry to finish his work on time.

They want to hurry to catch the last bus.

She hopes to hurry so that she won't be late.

We decided to hurry in order to avoid traffic.

He chose to hurry and get there early.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• mind
• practice

Example

I avoid hurrying in order to prevent accidents.

They recommend against hurrying when driving.

I am considering hurrying to catch the last train.

Do you mind hurrying a bit? We're running late.

She practices hurrying to improve her speed.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to hurry and get things done quickly. I like hurrying and feeling productive.

They started to hurry when they realized they were late. They started hurrying when they realized they were late.

He began to hurry after receiving the urgent message. He began hurrying after receiving the urgent message.