To Indicate vs Indicating 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 indicate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to indicate my agreement with a thumbs up.

Indicating (Gerund)

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

Example

Indicating your intentions can help avoid misunderstandings.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To indicate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To indicate your preference, please raise your hand.

  To indicate your preference, please raise your hand.

  • "*To indicate* your preference" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (your preference).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to indicate my availability for the meeting.

  She wants me to indicate my availability for the meeting.

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

  We need a sign to indicate the entrance to the parking lot.

  We need a sign to indicate the entrance to the parking lot.

  • "*To indicate* the entrance to the parking lot" modifies the noun "sign."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a sign *to indicate* the entrance to the parking lot).

Indicating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Indicating your preferences is important in decision-making.

  Indicating your preferences is important in decision-making.

  • "*Indicating* your preferences" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important in decision-making).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy indicating my approval with a smile.

  I enjoy indicating my approval with a smile.

  • "*Indicating* my approval with a smile" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*indicating* my approval with a smile).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for indicating the right direction.

  She has a talent for indicating the right direction.

  • "For *indicating* the right direction" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *indicating* the right direction).

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 indicate their approval during the meeting.

I hope to indicate my support for the proposal.

He wants to indicate his willingness to participate.

We decided to indicate our disapproval by voting against it.

They agreed to indicate their disagreement by raising their hands.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy indicating their preferences through gestures.

I recommend indicating your availability in the email.

She dislikes the idea of indicating her opinion publicly.

He avoids indicating his discomfort in social situations.

Can you imagine yourself indicating your emotions without words?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to indicate their agreement with a nod. They like indicating their agreement with a nod.

We started to indicate our presence by signing in. We started indicating our presence by signing in.

He began to indicate his objection by raising his hand. He began indicating his objection by raising his hand.