To Innovate vs Innovating 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 innovate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to innovate in the field of technology.

Innovating (Gerund)

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

Example

Innovating is crucial for staying ahead in the competitive market.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To innovate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To innovate is essential for progress.

  To innovate is essential for progress.

  • "*To innovate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (essential) + prepositional phrase (for progress).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to innovate in our business strategies.

  She wants me to innovate in our business strategies.

  • "Me *to innovate* in our business strategies" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to innovate* in our business strategies).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a fresh perspective to innovate our products.

  We need a fresh perspective to innovate our products.

  • "*To innovate* our products" modifies the noun "perspective."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a fresh perspective *to innovate* our products).

Innovating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Innovating requires creativity and vision.

  Innovating requires creativity and vision.

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

  I enjoy innovating new solutions to complex problems.

  I enjoy innovating new solutions to complex problems.

  • "*Innovating* new solutions to complex problems" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*innovating* new solutions to complex problems).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a passion for innovating in the fashion industry.

  They have a passion for innovating in the fashion industry.

  • "For *innovating* in the fashion industry" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a passion for *innovating* in the fashion industry).

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 innovate their marketing techniques.

He hopes to innovate in the field of medicine.

We want to innovate our manufacturing processes.

She decided to innovate the educational system.

They agreed to innovate their customer service approach.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys innovating in the field of architecture.

Experts recommend continuous innovating for business growth.

I dislike the idea of innovating without a clear strategy.

They avoid innovating in areas outside their expertise.

Can you imagine yourself innovating breakthrough technologies?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to innovate in the digital space. She likes innovating in the digital space.

We started to innovate new business models. We started innovating new business models.

He began to innovate with renewable energy solutions. He began innovating with renewable energy solutions.