To Leech vs Leeching 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 leech (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to leech off your success.

Leeching (Gerund)

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

Example

Leeching is an unethical practice in the business world.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To leech (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To leech is a dishonest way to benefit from others' hard work.

  To leech is a dishonest way to benefit from others' hard work.

  • "*To leech*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a dishonest way to benefit from others' hard work).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to leech off her connections.

  She wants me to leech off her connections.

  • "Me *to leech* off her connections" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to leech* off her connections).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a mentor to leech knowledge from.

  I need a mentor to leech knowledge from.

  • "*To leech* knowledge from" modifies the noun "mentor."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a mentor *to leech* knowledge from).

Leeching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Leeching off others' ideas is not a sign of creativity.

  Leeching off others' ideas is not a sign of creativity.

  • "*Leeching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a sign of creativity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy leeching information from online forums.

  I enjoy leeching information from online forums.

  • "*Leeching* information from online forums" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*leeching* information from online forums).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for leeching off other people's achievements.

  He has a talent for leeching off other people's achievements.

  • "For *leeching* off other people's achievements" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *leeching* off other people's achievements).

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

He plans to leech off his colleague's expertise for his own gain.

They hope to leech off the popularity of their friend's social media account.

She wants to leech off the success of the company.

We decided to leech off the resources available to us.

They agreed to leech off each other's networks for mutual benefit.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys leeching off others' hard work without contributing anything.

They recommend avoiding leeching off colleagues' ideas and instead fostering collaboration.

I dislike the act of leeching off someone else's creativity.

He avoids leeching off others' success and focuses on his own achievements.

Can you imagine yourself leeching off your friends' accomplishments?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to leech off unsuspecting individuals. She likes leeching off unsuspecting individuals.

We started to leech off the company's resources. We started leeching off the company's resources.

He began to leech off his competitors' strategies. He began leeching off his competitors' strategies.