To Mobilise vs Mobilising 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 mobilise (Infinitive)

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

Example

The organization plans to mobilise volunteers for the event.

Mobilising (Gerund)

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

Example

Mobilising resources is crucial for the success of any project.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mobilise (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mobilise a large group of people requires effective communication.

  To mobilise a large group of people requires effective communication.

  • "*To mobilise*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (effective communication).
• 2. Object

  She wants us to mobilise resources for the project.

  She wants us to mobilise resources for the project.

  • "Us *to mobilise* resources for the project" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (us *to mobilise* resources for the project).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a leader to mobilise the team effectively.

  They need a leader to mobilise the team effectively.

  • "*To mobilise* the team effectively" modifies the noun "leader."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a leader *to mobilise* the team effectively).

Mobilising (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mobilising the community is key to bringing about change.

  Mobilising the community is key to bringing about change.

  • "*Mobilising* the community" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (key to bringing about change).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys mobilising support for social causes.

  She enjoys mobilising support for social causes.

  • "*Mobilising* support for social causes" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*mobilising* support for social causes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are committed to the task of mobilising resources.

  They are committed to the task of mobilising resources.

  • "The task of *mobilising* resources" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (the task of *mobilising* resources).

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

We plan to mobilise support from the community.

I hope to mobilise enough funds for the project.

He wants to mobilise volunteers for the cause.

They decided to mobilise resources for disaster relief.

We agreed to mobilise our networks for the campaign.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• postpone
• understand

Example

Experts recommend mobilising community engagement for urban development.

We are considering mobilising public opinion on the issue.

She avoids mobilising unnecessary conflicts in the workplace.

They decided to postpone mobilising additional support until next month.

I understand the importance of mobilising public support.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to mobilise a team for the project. I would like mobilising a team for the project.

They started to mobilise volunteers for the event. They started mobilising volunteers for the event.

We should begin to mobilise resources immediately. We should begin mobilising resources immediately.