To Negotiate vs Negotiating 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 negotiate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to negotiate a better deal for the company.

Negotiating (Gerund)

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

Example

Negotiating requires excellent communication skills.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To negotiate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To negotiate is a crucial skill in business.

  To negotiate is a crucial skill in business.

  • "*To negotiate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crucial skill in business).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to negotiate the contract.

  She wants me to negotiate the contract.

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

  We need a skilled negotiator to negotiate the terms.

  We need a skilled negotiator to negotiate the terms.

  • "*To negotiate* the terms" modifies the noun "negotiator."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a skilled negotiator *to negotiate* the terms).

Negotiating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Negotiating is an essential part of business transactions.

  Negotiating is an essential part of business transactions.

  • "*Negotiating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential part of business transactions).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy negotiating with clients.

  I enjoy negotiating with clients.

  • "*Negotiating* with clients" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*negotiating* with clients).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for negotiating difficult contracts.

  He has a talent for negotiating difficult contracts.

  • "For *negotiating* difficult contracts" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *negotiating* difficult contracts).

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 negotiate a new agreement with their partners.

I hope to negotiate a fair salary for my new job.

He wants to negotiate the price of the car.

We decided to negotiate the terms of the contract.

They agreed to negotiate a compromise in the meeting.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

She enjoys negotiating business deals.

They recommend regular negotiating for successful partnerships.

He avoids negotiating with aggressive individuals.

I am considering negotiating a better offer.

Can you imagine yourself negotiating a multi-million dollar deal?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to negotiate complex contracts. She likes negotiating complex contracts.

We started to negotiate the terms of the agreement. We started negotiating the terms of the agreement.

He began to negotiate the purchase of the property. He began negotiating the purchase of the property.