To Illustrate vs Illustrating 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 illustrate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to illustrate the concept with a diagram.

Illustrating (Gerund)

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

Example

Illustrating helps to convey ideas visually.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To illustrate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To illustrate is an important skill for graphic designers.

  To illustrate is an important skill for graphic designers.

  • "*To illustrate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important skill for graphic designers).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to illustrate her book.

  She wants me to illustrate her book.

  • "Me *to illustrate* her book" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to illustrate* her book).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a whiteboard to illustrate the steps.

  I need a whiteboard to illustrate the steps.

  • "*To illustrate* the steps" modifies the noun "whiteboard."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a whiteboard *to illustrate* the steps).

Illustrating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Illustrating requires creativity and attention to detail.

  Illustrating requires creativity and attention to detail.

  • "*Illustrating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (creativity and attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy illustrating scenes from my favorite books.

  I enjoy illustrating scenes from my favorite books.

  • "*Illustrating* scenes from my favorite books" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*illustrating* scenes from my favorite books).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for illustrating complex concepts.

  She has a talent for illustrating complex concepts.

  • "For *illustrating* complex concepts" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *illustrating* complex concepts).

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

She plans to illustrate the presentation with visual aids.

They hope to illustrate their point with examples.

He wants to illustrate the process in detail.

We decided to illustrate the story with illustrations.

They agreed to illustrate the article with infographics.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys illustrating colorful landscapes.

They recommend practicing illustrating regularly for improvement.

I dislike the idea of illustrating abstract concepts.

He avoids illustrating in black and white.

Can you imagine yourself illustrating your own children's book?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to illustrate using watercolors. She likes illustrating using watercolors.

We started to illustrate professionally. We started illustrating professionally.

He began to illustrate his own comic book. He began illustrating his own comic book.