To Navigate vs Navigating 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 navigate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to navigate through the maze to find the exit.

Navigating (Gerund)

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

Example

Navigating through rush hour traffic can be stressful.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To navigate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To navigate is an essential skill for sailors.

  To navigate is an essential skill for sailors.

  • "*To navigate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential skill for sailors).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to navigate the city streets.

  She wants me to navigate the city streets.

  • "Me *to navigate* the city streets" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to navigate* the city streets).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a map to navigate the unfamiliar territory.

  I need a map to navigate the unfamiliar territory.

  • "*To navigate* the unfamiliar territory" modifies the noun "map."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a map *to navigate* the unfamiliar territory).

Navigating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Navigating busy airports requires careful planning.

  Navigating busy airports requires careful planning.

  • "*Navigating* busy airports" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful planning).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy navigating the open sea.

  I enjoy navigating the open sea.

  • "*Navigating* the open sea" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*navigating* the open sea).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for navigating complex road networks.

  She has a talent for navigating complex road networks.

  • "For *navigating* complex road networks" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *navigating* complex road networks).

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 navigate the river in a canoe.

We hope to navigate the hiking trail without getting lost.

They want to navigate the challenging terrain.

I decided to navigate the city by using a GPS.

We agreed to navigate the maze together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

He enjoys navigating through the forest on his bike.

They recommend using a compass when navigating in the wilderness.

She avoids navigating through heavy traffic.

Can you imagine yourself navigating through a dense fog?

I am considering navigating the river by kayak.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to navigate using a GPS. They like navigating in unfamiliar places.

He started to navigate the maze. He started navigating the maze.

We began to navigate the city streets. We began navigating the city streets.