To Improvise vs Improvising 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 improvise (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to improvise a solution to the problem.

Improvising (Gerund)

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

Example

Improvising is a valuable skill in the performing arts.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To improvise (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To improvise requires quick thinking and creativity.

  To improvise requires quick thinking and creativity.

  • "*To improvise*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (quick thinking and creativity).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to improvise a song for her.

  She wants me to improvise a song for her.

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

  I need a flexible mindset to improvise in difficult situations.

  I need a flexible mindset to improvise in difficult situations.

  • "*To improvise* in difficult situations" modifies the noun "mindset."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a flexible mindset *to improvise* in difficult situations).

Improvising (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Improvising requires creativity and spontaneity.

  Improvising requires creativity and spontaneity.

  • "*Improvising*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (creativity and spontaneity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy improvising melodies on the piano.

  I enjoy improvising melodies on the piano.

  • "*Improvising* melodies on the piano" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*improvising* melodies on the piano).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for improvising in jazz music.

  She has a passion for improvising in jazz music.

  • "For *improvising* in jazz music" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *improvising* in jazz music).

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 improvise a speech for the presentation.

They hope to improvise a dance routine for the talent show.

He wants to improvise a recipe for dinner tonight.

We decided to improvise our way through the maze.

They agreed to improvise a skit for the party.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys improvising in theatrical performances.

They recommend regular improvising exercises for actors.

I dislike the idea of improvising in front of an audience.

He avoids improvising in high-pressure situations.

Can you imagine yourself improvising a comedy sketch?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to improvise on the spot. She likes improvising on the spot.

We started to improvise together as a band. We started improvising together as a band.

He began to improvise during his acting classes. He began improvising during his acting classes.