To Manufacture vs Manufacturing 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 manufacture (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to manufacture my own products and start a business.

Manufacturing (Gerund)

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

Example

Manufacturing plays a vital role in the economy.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To manufacture (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To manufacture requires a lot of skill and precision.

  To manufacture requires a lot of skill and precision.

  • "*To manufacture*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (a lot of skill and precision).
• 2. Object

  They hired a company to manufacture their products.

  They hired a company to manufacture their products.

  • "A company *to manufacture* their products" is the object of the verb "hired."
  • Noun (They) + verb (hired) + noun phrase (a company *to manufacture* their products).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a facility to manufacture our goods.

  We need a facility to manufacture our goods.

  • "*To manufacture* our goods" modifies the noun "facility."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a facility *to manufacture* our goods).

Manufacturing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Manufacturing creates job opportunities for many people.

  Manufacturing creates job opportunities for many people.

  • "*Manufacturing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (creates) + noun phrase (job opportunities for many people).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy manufacturing products with my hands.

  I enjoy manufacturing products with my hands.

  • "*Manufacturing* products with my hands" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*manufacturing* products with my hands).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has experience in manufacturing electronics.

  She has experience in manufacturing electronics.

  • "In *manufacturing* electronics" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *manufacturing* electronics).

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 manufacture her own clothing line.

They hope to manufacture eco-friendly products.

He wants to manufacture custom-made furniture.

We decided to manufacture our products locally.

They agreed to manufacture the components in-house.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

He enjoys manufacturing innovative gadgets.

Experts recommend investing in advanced manufacturing technologies.

They avoid manufacturing products that harm the environment.

We are considering manufacturing our products locally.

Can you imagine yourself manufacturing your own clothes?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to manufacture unique jewelry pieces. She likes manufacturing unique jewelry pieces.

We started to manufacture our own cosmetics line. We started manufacturing our own cosmetics line.

He began to manufacture his own furniture. He began manufacturing his own furniture.