To Journey vs Journeying 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 journey (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to journey to the mountains to experience their beauty.

Journeying (Gerund)

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

Example

Journeying is a way to broaden your horizons and learn about different cultures.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To journey (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To journey is a great way to discover new places.

  To journey is a great way to discover new places.

  • "*To journey*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great way to discover new places).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to journey with her around the world.

  She wants me to journey with her around the world.

  • "Me *to journey* with her around the world" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to journey* with her around the world).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a reliable car to journey long distances.

  I need a reliable car to journey long distances.

  • "*To journey* long distances" modifies the noun "car."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable car *to journey* long distances).

Journeying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Journeying allows you to experience new adventures.

  Journeying allows you to experience new adventures.

  • "*Journeying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (allows) + noun phrase (you to experience new adventures).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy journeying to remote places.

  I enjoy journeying to remote places.

  • "*Journeying* to remote places" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*journeying* to remote places).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for journeying through historical sites.

  She has a passion for journeying through historical sites.

  • "For *journeying* through historical sites" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *journeying* through historical sites).

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

She plans to journey through Europe next summer.

They hope to journey to the top of the mountain someday.

He wants to journey along the coast for his vacation.

We decided to journey across the country by train.

They agreed to journey together to explore the rainforest.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys journeying to different countries.

They recommend journeying solo for personal growth.

I dislike the idea of journeying in crowded tourist areas.

He avoids journeying during peak travel seasons.

Can you imagine yourself journeying through the Amazon rainforest?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to journey to remote destinations. She likes journeying to remote destinations.

We started to journey together as a family. We started journeying together as a family.

He began to journey around the world after retiring. He began journeying around the world after retiring.