To Leave vs Leaving 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 leave (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to leave early to avoid traffic.

Leaving (Gerund)

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

Example

Leaving the party early was a good decision.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To leave (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To leave is my only option.

  To leave is my only option.

  • "*To leave*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (my only option).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to leave the party.

  She wants me to leave the party.

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

  He needs a break to leave work behind.

  He needs a break to leave work behind.

  • "*To leave* work behind" modifies the noun "break."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a break *to leave* work behind).

Leaving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Leaving is never easy.

  Leaving is never easy.

  • "*Leaving*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (never easy).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys leaving work on time.

  She enjoys leaving work on time.

  • "*Leaving* work on time" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*leaving* work on time).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a fear of leaving his comfort zone.

  He has a fear of leaving his comfort zone.

  • "Of *leaving* his comfort zone" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *leaving* his comfort zone).

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 leave for their vacation next week.

I hope to leave early for the meeting.

We want to leave the party before it gets too late.

He decided to leave the company and start his own business.

They agreed to leave the decision up to their boss.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy leaving their worries behind and going on vacation.

The doctor recommends leaving unhealthy habits behind for a better lifestyle.

She dislikes the idea of leaving her hometown and moving to a new city.

He avoids leaving tasks unfinished at the end of the day.

Can you imagine yourself leaving everything behind and starting a new life?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to leave work early on Fridays. I like leaving work early on Fridays.

They started to leave the party when it became too crowded. They started leaving the party when it became too crowded.

She began to leave notes for her colleagues. She began leaving notes for her colleagues.