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 myself in the project to gain experience.

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 others in the project leads to better collaboration.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To involve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To involve oneself in community service is a noble act.

  To involve oneself in community service is a noble act.

  • "*To involve* oneself in community service" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a noble act).
• 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

  I need a challenging project to involve myself in.

  I need a challenging project to involve myself in.

  • "*To involve* myself in" modifies the noun "project."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a challenging project *to involve* myself in).

Involving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Involving customers in the product development process is essential for success.

  Involving customers in the product development process is essential for success.

  • "*Involving* customers in the product development process" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for success).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy involving my team members in decision-making.

  I enjoy involving my team members in decision-making.

  • "*Involving* my team members in decision-making" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*involving* my team members in decision-making).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for involving herself in social causes.

  She has a passion for involving herself in social causes.

  • "For *involving* herself in social causes" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *involving* herself in social causes).

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 all team members in the brainstorming session.

I hope to involve my friends in the charity event.

He wants to involve his colleagues in the decision-making process.

We decided to involve external consultants in the project.

They agreed to involve the stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys involving his team in challenging projects.

They recommend involving stakeholders in the decision-making process.

She dislikes the idea of involving outsiders in the project.

We avoid involving unnecessary risks in our business strategy.

Can you imagine involving yourself in a global initiative?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to involve herself in volunteer work. She likes involving herself in volunteer work.

We started to involve more team members in the decision-making process. We started involving more team members in the decision-making process.

He began to involve himself in the project from day one. He began involving himself in the project from day one.