To Mitigate vs Mitigating 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 mitigate (Infinitive)

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

Example

We need to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Mitigating (Gerund)

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

Example

Mitigating climate change requires collective effort.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mitigate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mitigate is our primary goal in this project.

  To mitigate is our primary goal in this project.

  • "*To mitigate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (our primary goal in this project).
• 2. Object

  They expect us to mitigate the environmental impact of the construction.

  They expect us to mitigate the environmental impact of the construction.

  • "Us *to mitigate* the environmental impact of the construction" is the object of the verb "expect."
  • Noun (They) + verb (expect) + noun phrase (us *to mitigate* the environmental impact of the construction).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a strategy to mitigate the risks.

  We need a strategy to mitigate the risks.

  • "*To mitigate* the risks" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to mitigate* the risks).

Mitigating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mitigating climate change is crucial for our future.

  Mitigating climate change is crucial for our future.

  • "*Mitigating* climate change" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for our future).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy mitigating the impact of pollution on the environment.

  I enjoy mitigating the impact of pollution on the environment.

  • "*Mitigating* the impact of pollution on the environment" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*mitigating* the impact of pollution on the environment).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for mitigating social inequality.

  She has a passion for mitigating social inequality.

  • "For *mitigating* social inequality" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *mitigating* social inequality).

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

They plan to mitigate the damage caused by the hurricane.

She hopes to mitigate the negative impact of the new policy.

He wants to mitigate the financial risks of the investment.

We decided to mitigate the potential consequences.

They agreed to mitigate the environmental harm together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• postpone
• imagine

Example

Experts recommend mitigating the risks associated with cybersecurity threats.

They avoid mitigating the consequences of their actions.

We are considering mitigating the negative effects of urbanization.

He postponed mitigating the problem until further analysis is done.

Can you imagine mitigating the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

We would like to mitigate the damage caused by deforestation. We would like mitigating the effects of deforestation.

She started to mitigate the risks of climate change early on. She started mitigating the risks of climate change early on.

He began to mitigate the impact of pollution in his community. He began mitigating the impact of pollution in his community.