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 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 often leads to mistakes.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To hurry (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To hurry is important when you are running late.

  To hurry is important when you are running late.

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

  She wants me to hurry and finish the report.

  She wants me to hurry and finish the report.

  • "Me *to hurry* and finish the report" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to hurry* and finish the report).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I bought a fast car to hurry to my destinations.

  I bought a fast car to hurry to my destinations.

  • "*To hurry* to my destinations" modifies the noun "car."
  • Noun (I) + verb (bought) + noun phrase (a fast car *to hurry* to my destinations).

Hurrying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Hurrying is not recommended when you want to do things accurately.

  Hurrying is not recommended when you want to do things accurately.

  • "*Hurrying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (not recommended when you want to do things accurately).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy hurrying to finish my work before the deadline.

  I enjoy hurrying to finish my work before the deadline.

  • "*Hurrying* to finish my work before the deadline" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*hurrying* to finish my work before the deadline).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of hurrying without thinking about the consequences.

  She has a habit of hurrying without thinking about the consequences.

  • "Of *hurrying* without thinking about the consequences" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *hurrying* without thinking about the consequences).

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

• decide
• want
• manage
• refuse
• plan

Example

We decided to hurry and leave early for the meeting.

He wants to hurry and catch the bus.

They managed to hurry and finish the project on time.

She refused to hurry and complete the task.

We plan to hurry and get there before it gets dark.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• mind
• recommend
• resist

Example

He avoids hurrying in order to minimize errors.

They consider hurrying as a necessary evil in their line of work.

Do you mind hurrying to the store for me?

I recommend hurrying if you want to catch the last train.

She resisted hurrying and took her time to complete the task.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to hurry when I have a lot to accomplish. I like hurrying when I am in a rush.

We started to hurry after realizing we were running late. We started hurrying after realizing we were running late.

He began to hurry as soon as he heard the alarm. He began hurrying as soon as he heard the alarm.