To Merchandize vs Merchandizing 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 merchandize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to merchandize my products online.

Merchandizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Merchandizing plays a crucial role in driving sales.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To merchandize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To merchandize effectively requires knowledge of consumer behavior.

  To merchandize effectively requires knowledge of consumer behavior.

  • "*To merchandize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (knowledge of consumer behavior).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to merchandize her new line of clothing.

  She wants me to merchandize her new line of clothing.

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

  I need a platform to merchandize my products.

  I need a platform to merchandize my products.

  • "*To merchandize* my products" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to merchandize* my products).

Merchandizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Merchandizing requires creativity and strategic thinking.

  Merchandizing requires creativity and strategic thinking.

  • "*Merchandizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (creativity and strategic thinking).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy merchandizing products for display.

  I enjoy merchandizing products for display.

  • "*Merchandizing* products for display" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*merchandizing* products for display).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for merchandizing fashion accessories.

  She has a talent for merchandizing fashion accessories.

  • "For *merchandizing* fashion accessories" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *merchandizing* fashion accessories).

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

• decide
• hope
• want
• plan
• attempt

Example

We decided to merchandize our products through multiple channels.

They hope to merchandize their products globally.

He wants to merchandize his products on social media.

She plans to merchandize her products in physical stores.

We attempted to merchandize our products through direct mail campaigns.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• mind
• consider

Example

They recommend merchandizing products based on market trends.

He avoids merchandizing low-quality items.

Can you imagine merchandizing luxury goods?

I don't mind merchandizing different product categories.

We are considering merchandizing our products internationally.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to merchandize trendy fashion items. She likes merchandizing trendy fashion items.

We started to merchandize our own line of cosmetics. We started merchandizing our own line of cosmetics.

He began to merchandize his handmade crafts. He began merchandizing his handmade crafts.