To Relinquish vs Relinquishing 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 relinquish (Infinitive)

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

Example

I decided to relinquish my position as team captain.

Relinquishing (Gerund)

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

Example

Relinquishing power can be challenging for leaders.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To relinquish (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To relinquish control is difficult for some people.

  To relinquish control is difficult for some people.

  • "*To relinquish* control" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (difficult for some people).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to relinquish my share of the company.

  She wants me to relinquish my share of the company.

  • "Me *to relinquish* my share of the company" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to relinquish* my share of the company).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a reason to relinquish his power.

  He needs a reason to relinquish his power.

  • "*To relinquish* his power" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to relinquish* his power).

Relinquishing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Relinquishing control is a sign of trust.

  Relinquishing control is a sign of trust.

  • "*Relinquishing* control" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a sign of trust).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy relinquishing control to my team members.

  I enjoy relinquishing control to my team members.

  • "*Relinquishing* control" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*relinquishing* control).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of relinquishing authority.

  She has a fear of relinquishing authority.

  • "Of *relinquishing* authority" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *relinquishing* authority).

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 relinquish her duties next month.

They hope to relinquish their control over the project.

He wants to relinquish his responsibilities to someone else.

We decided to relinquish our claim on the property.

They agreed to relinquish their rights in the settlement.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys relinquishing her role to others.

They recommend gradually relinquishing control in a transition.

I dislike the idea of relinquishing power to someone else.

He avoids relinquishing his control over the situation.

Can you imagine yourself relinquishing your position?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to relinquish control to her team. She likes relinquishing control to her team.

We started to relinquish our authority in small steps. We started relinquishing our authority in small steps.

He began to relinquish his power gradually. He began relinquishing his power gradually.