To Leapfrog vs Leapfrogging 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 leapfrog (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to leapfrog my competitors and become the market leader.

Leapfrogging (Gerund)

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

Example

Leapfrogging is a common strategy in the business world.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To leapfrog (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To leapfrog is a strategic move in business.

  To leapfrog is a strategic move in business.

  • "*To leapfrog*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a strategic move in business).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to leapfrog the competition.

  She wants me to leapfrog the competition.

  • "Me *to leapfrog* the competition" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to leapfrog* the competition).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a new strategy to leapfrog my competitors.

  I need a new strategy to leapfrog my competitors.

  • "*To leapfrog* my competitors" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a new strategy *to leapfrog* my competitors).

Leapfrogging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Leapfrogging can give a company a competitive advantage.

  Leapfrogging can give a company a competitive advantage.

  • "*Leapfrogging*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can give) + noun phrase (a company a competitive advantage).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy leapfrogging my competitors in the market.

  I enjoy leapfrogging my competitors in the market.

  • "*Leapfrogging* my competitors in the market" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*leapfrogging* my competitors in the market).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for leapfrogging over obstacles.

  She has a talent for leapfrogging over obstacles.

  • "For *leapfrogging* over obstacles" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *leapfrogging* over obstacles).

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 leapfrog the market with her innovative product.

They hope to leapfrog their rivals by offering better customer service.

He wants to leapfrog his colleagues and get promoted.

We decided to leapfrog our competitors by investing in new technology.

They agreed to leapfrog the competition by lowering their prices.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys leapfrogging her competitors and gaining market share.

They recommend leapfrogging the competition by offering unique features.

I dislike the idea of leapfrogging others to get ahead.

He avoids leapfrogging his teammates and prefers collaborative work.

Can you imagine yourself leapfrogging your competitors and dominating the industry?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to leapfrog her opponents in the game. She likes leapfrogging her opponents in the game.

We started to leapfrog the competition with our innovative product. We started leapfrogging the competition with our innovative product.

He began to leapfrog his colleagues by delivering outstanding results. He began leapfrogging his colleagues by delivering outstanding results.