To Necessitate vs Necessitating 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 necessitate (Infinitive)

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

Example

The project will necessitate hiring additional staff.

Necessitating (Gerund)

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

Example

The budget cuts are necessitating a reevaluation of our priorities.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To necessitate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To necessitate such drastic measures is concerning.

  To necessitate such drastic measures is concerning.

  • "*To necessitate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (concerning).
• 2. Object

  We want them to necessitate a change in their approach.

  We want them to necessitate a change in their approach.

  • "Them *to necessitate* a change in their approach" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (We) + verb (want) + noun phrase (them *to necessitate* a change in their approach).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a larger budget to necessitate more resources.

  She needs a larger budget to necessitate more resources.

  • "*To necessitate* more resources" modifies the noun "budget."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a larger budget *to necessitate* more resources).

Necessitating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Necessitating a change in strategy is inevitable.

  Necessitating a change in strategy is inevitable.

  • "*Necessitating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (inevitable).
• 2. Object

  I dislike necessitating such drastic measures.

  I dislike necessitating such drastic measures.

  • "*Necessitating* such drastic measures" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*necessitating* such drastic measures).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has concerns about necessitating a reduction in staff.

  She has concerns about necessitating a reduction in staff.

  • "About *necessitating* a reduction in staff" is the object of the preposition "about."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (concerns about *necessitating* a reduction in staff).

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
• decide
• hope
• wish
• determine

Example

They plan to necessitate an expansion of their operations.

He decided to necessitate a complete overhaul of the system.

I hope to necessitate any further changes to the schedule.

We wish to necessitate a revision of the contract terms.

The investigation will determine whether to necessitate legal action.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• avoid
• recommend
• postpone
• imagine

Example

We are considering necessitating changes to the project timeline.

They are trying to avoid necessitating layoffs.

Experts recommend necessitating regular maintenance for optimal performance.

They decided to postpone necessitating a decision on the matter.

Can you imagine necessitating a complete rebranding of the company?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She doesn't like to necessitate additional expenses. She doesn't like necessitating additional expenses.

We began to necessitate stricter regulations. We began necessitating stricter regulations.

They will continue to necessitate ongoing adjustments. They will continue necessitating ongoing adjustments.