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 over my competitors in the market.

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 can be an effective strategy in business.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To leapfrog (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To leapfrog requires agility and strategy.

  To leapfrog requires agility and strategy.

  • "*To leapfrog*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (agility and strategy).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to leapfrog over the obstacles.

  She wants me to leapfrog over the obstacles.

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

  I need a clear path to leapfrog my competitors.

  I need a clear path to leapfrog my competitors.

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

Leapfrogging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Leapfrogging requires careful planning and execution.

  Leapfrogging requires careful planning and execution.

  • "*Leapfrogging*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning and execution).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy leapfrogging over obstacles in my career.

  I enjoy leapfrogging over obstacles in my career.

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

  She has a talent for leapfrogging her competitors.

  She has a talent for leapfrogging her competitors.

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

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 in the market with a new marketing strategy.

They hope to leapfrog their competitors with innovative products.

He wants to leapfrog to the top of the industry.

We decided to leapfrog our competitors by offering better customer service.

They agreed to leapfrog together by forming a strategic partnership.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys leapfrogging in the market with innovative ideas.

They recommend leapfrogging over obstacles for rapid progress.

I dislike the idea of leapfrogging without proper planning.

He avoids leapfrogging in risky ventures.

Can you imagine yourself leapfrogging your competitors in the industry?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to leapfrog over challenges. She likes leapfrogging over challenges.

We started to leapfrog in the market with a new product line. We started leapfrogging in the market with a new product line.

He began to leapfrog his competitors by offering better prices. He began leapfrogging his competitors by offering better prices.