To Increase vs Increasing 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 increase (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to increase my productivity at work.

Increasing (Gerund)

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

Example

Increasing your physical activity can improve your overall health.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To increase (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To increase sales is the company's main goal.

  To increase sales is the company's main goal.

  • "*To increase* sales" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the company's main goal).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to increase my efforts.

  She wants me to increase my efforts.

  • "Me *to increase* my efforts" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to increase* my efforts).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a new strategy to increase our market share.

  We need a new strategy to increase our market share.

  • "*To increase* our market share" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a new strategy *to increase* our market share).

Increasing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Increasing customer satisfaction is our top priority.

  Increasing customer satisfaction is our top priority.

  • "*Increasing* customer satisfaction" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (our top priority).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy increasing my knowledge through reading.

  I enjoy increasing my knowledge through reading.

  • "*Increasing* my knowledge through reading" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*increasing* my knowledge through reading).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for increasing efficiency in the workplace.

  She has a passion for increasing efficiency in the workplace.

  • "For *increasing* efficiency in the workplace" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *increasing* efficiency in the workplace).

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

They plan to increase their production capacity next year.

I hope to increase my savings by the end of the year.

He wants to increase his knowledge in the field.

We decided to increase the budget for marketing campaigns.

They agreed to increase their collaboration on the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys increasing his skills through practice.

Experts recommend increasing daily water intake for better hydration.

I dislike the idea of increasing working hours.

They avoid increasing their expenses unnecessarily.

Can you imagine increasing your income by working from home?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

We would like to increase our customer base. We would like increasing our customer base.

She started to increase her exercise routine. She started increasing her exercise routine.

He began to increase his savings for retirement. He began increasing his savings for retirement.