To Manage vs Managing 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 manage (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to manage my time more effectively.

Managing (Gerund)

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

Example

Managing a team can be challenging but rewarding.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To manage (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To manage a team requires strong leadership skills.

  To manage a team requires strong leadership skills.

  • "*To manage* a team" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (strong leadership skills).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to manage the project.

  She wants me to manage the project.

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

  I need a system to manage my tasks.

  I need a system to manage my tasks.

  • "*To manage* my tasks" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a system *to manage* my tasks).

Managing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Managing people requires excellent communication skills.

  Managing people requires excellent communication skills.

  • "*Managing* people" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (excellent communication skills).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy managing complex projects.

  I enjoy managing complex projects.

  • "*Managing* complex projects" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*managing* complex projects).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for managing difficult situations.

  She has a talent for managing difficult situations.

  • "For *managing* difficult situations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *managing* difficult situations).

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 manage the event logistics.

They hope to manage their finances more efficiently.

He wants to manage his own business.

We decided to manage the project together.

They agreed to manage the team effectively.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys managing a diverse team.

They recommend managing your time effectively.

I dislike the stress of managing multiple projects.

He avoids managing conflicts in the workplace.

Can you imagine yourself managing a large company?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to manage her own schedule. She likes managing challenging projects.

We started to manage our own business. We started managing our own business.

He began to manage his team more efficiently. He began managing his team more efficiently.