To Involve vs Involving 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 involve (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to involve everyone in the project to ensure its success.

Involving (Gerund)

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

Example

Involving everyone in the project leads to better outcomes.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To involve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To involve others is a key aspect of leadership.

  To involve others is a key aspect of leadership.

  • "*To involve* others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a key aspect of leadership).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to involve her in the decision-making process.

  She wants me to involve her in the decision-making process.

  • "Me *to involve* her in the decision-making process" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to involve* her in the decision-making process).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a collaborative approach to involve all team members.

  We need a collaborative approach to involve all team members.

  • "*To involve* all team members" modifies the noun "approach."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a collaborative approach *to involve* all team members).

Involving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Involving others in the decision-making process is essential.

  Involving others in the decision-making process is essential.

  • "*Involving* others in the decision-making process" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential).
• 2. Object

  We appreciate your efforts in involving us in the project.

  We appreciate your efforts in involving us in the project.

  • "Your efforts in *involving* us in the project" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (your efforts in *involving* us in the project).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for involving people in his ideas.

  He has a talent for involving people in his ideas.

  • "For *involving* people in his ideas" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *involving* people in his ideas).

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 involve external experts in the project.

He hopes to involve more volunteers for the event.

We want to involve the community in the decision-making process.

She decided to involve the whole team in the project.

They agreed to involve all stakeholders in the discussion.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys involving others in creative projects.

They recommend involving all team members in the decision-making process.

I dislike the idea of involving external consultants in the project.

He avoids involving himself in office politics.

Can you imagine involving the entire community in the project?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to involve their employees in decision-making. They like involving their employees in decision-making.

We started to involve more volunteers in our organization. We started involving more volunteers in our organization.

He began to involve himself in community service. He began involving himself in community service.