To Maintain vs Maintaining 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 maintain (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Maintaining (Gerund)

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

Example

Maintaining a daily journal can help improve mental clarity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To maintain (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To maintain a good relationship, communication is key.

  To maintain a good relationship, communication is key.

  • "*To maintain*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a good relationship).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to maintain the garden.

  She wants me to maintain the garden.

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

  I need a balanced diet to maintain my weight.

  I need a balanced diet to maintain my weight.

  • "*To maintain* my weight" modifies the noun "diet."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a balanced diet *to maintain* my weight).

Maintaining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for overall well-being.

  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for overall well-being.

  • "*Maintaining*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a healthy lifestyle).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy maintaining a clean and organized workspace.

  I enjoy maintaining a clean and organized workspace.

  • "*Maintaining* a clean and organized workspace" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*maintaining* a clean and organized workspace).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for maintaining her fitness level.

  She has a passion for maintaining her fitness level.

  • "For *maintaining* her fitness level" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *maintaining* her fitness level).

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 maintain a regular exercise routine.

They hope to maintain their productivity at work.

He wants to maintain a clean and organized home.

We decided to maintain a positive attitude in difficult times.

They agreed to maintain confidentiality in the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys maintaining a regular skincare routine.

They recommend maintaining a work-life balance for better mental health.

I dislike the idea of maintaining strict diets.

He avoids maintaining toxic relationships.

Can you imagine yourself maintaining a successful business?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to maintain a clean environment. She likes maintaining a clean environment.

We started to maintain regular exercise habits. We started maintaining regular exercise habits.

He began to maintain a daily meditation practice. He began maintaining a daily meditation practice.