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 increase in demand for electricity necessitates the construction of new power plants.

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 shortage of medical supplies is necessitating creative solutions.

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

  They expect the project to necessitate additional funding.

  They expect the project to necessitate additional funding.

  • "The project *to necessitate* additional funding" is the object of the verb "expect."
  • Noun (They) + verb (expect) + noun phrase (the project *to necessitate* additional funding).
• 3. Adverb Modifier

  She worked hard to necessitate a promotion.

  She worked hard to necessitate a promotion.

  • "Hard *to necessitate* a promotion" modifies the verb "worked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (worked) + adverb phrase (hard *to necessitate* a promotion).

Necessitating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Necessitating strict measures has become necessary.

  Necessitating strict measures has become necessary.

  • "*Necessitating* strict measures" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (has become) + adjective (necessary).
• 2. Object

  We appreciate your efforts in necessitating a change.

  We appreciate your efforts in necessitating a change.

  • "Your efforts in *necessitating* a change" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (your efforts in *necessitating* a change).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  The pandemic is a situation necessitating immediate action.

  The pandemic is a situation necessitating immediate action.

  • "A situation *necessitating* immediate action" is the object of the preposition "is."
  • Noun phrase (The pandemic) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a situation *necessitating* immediate action).

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 necessitate changes in their business strategy.

We hope to necessitate improvements in our infrastructure.

He wants the situation to necessitate immediate action.

The committee decided to necessitate a thorough investigation.

They agreed to necessitate stricter regulations.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• delay
• imagine

Example

They avoid actions necessitating legal consequences.

Experts recommend measures necessitating social distancing.

They are considering options necessitating budget cuts.

The repairs are being delayed, necessitating temporary solutions.

Can you imagine a scenario necessitating evacuation?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to necessitate such drastic measures. I don't like necessitating such drastic measures.

We started to necessitate changes in our operations. We started necessitating changes in our operations.

He began to necessitate additional resources. He began necessitating additional resources.