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 own business.

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 her project.

  She wants me to manage her project.

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

  I need a software to manage my finances.

  I need a software to manage my finances.

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

Managing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Managing a business requires multitasking skills.

  Managing a business requires multitasking skills.

  • "*Managing* a business" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (multitasking skills).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy managing projects and coordinating tasks.

  I enjoy managing projects and coordinating tasks.

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

  He has a talent for managing difficult situations.

  He has a talent for managing difficult situations.

  • "For *managing* difficult situations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + 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

He plans to manage his own restaurant someday.

They hope to manage a successful team in the future.

She wants to manage a big project for the company.

We decided to manage our own investments.

They agreed to manage the event together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys managing teams and guiding their progress.

They recommend managing time effectively for better productivity.

I dislike the pressure of managing large projects.

He avoids managing conflicts in the workplace.

Can you imagine yourself managing a successful business?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

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

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

He began to manage his own team. He began managing his own team.