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 urgent situation necessitated us to act quickly.

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 urgent situation necessitating immediate action.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To necessitate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To necessitate action is sometimes unavoidable.

  To necessitate action is sometimes unavoidable.

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

  They expect me to necessitate changes in the project.

  They expect me to necessitate changes in the project.

  • "Me *to necessitate* changes in the project" is the object of the verb "expect."
  • Noun (They) + verb (expect) + noun phrase (me *to necessitate* changes in the project).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a plan to necessitate immediate action.

  We need a plan to necessitate immediate action.

  • "*To necessitate* immediate action" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to necessitate* immediate action).

Necessitating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Necessitating immediate action is crucial in emergency situations.

  Necessitating immediate action is crucial in emergency situations.

  • "*Necessitating* immediate action" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (crucial in emergency situations).
• 2. Object

  I can't stand the pressure of necessitating constant changes.

  I can't stand the pressure of necessitating constant changes.

  • "The pressure of *necessitating* constant changes" is the object of the verb "can't stand."
  • Noun (I) + verb (can't stand) + noun phrase (the pressure of *necessitating* constant changes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for necessitating innovation.

  She has a knack for necessitating innovation.

  • "For *necessitating* innovation" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *necessitating* innovation).

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

• demand
• refuse
• choose
• manage
• attempt

Example

The situation demands us to act quickly.

She refused to necessitate any changes in the schedule.

We chose to necessitate a different approach.

He managed to necessitate additional resources.

They attempted to necessitate a compromise.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• understand

Example

He enjoys necessitating creative solutions.

They recommend necessitating regular practice.

I avoid necessitating unnecessary complications.

Can you imagine necessitating such drastic measures?

We understand the importance of necessitating change.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to necessitate immediate action. She likes necessitating immediate action.

We started to necessitate a complete overhaul. We started necessitating a complete overhaul.

He began to necessitate new strategies. He began necessitating new strategies.