To Notify vs Notifying 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 notify (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to notify you as soon as the results are available.

Notifying (Gerund)

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

Example

Notifying customers of the delay is essential for maintaining good communication.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To notify (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To notify is an important responsibility.

  To notify is an important responsibility.

  • "*To notify*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important responsibility).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to notify her of any changes.

  She wants me to notify her of any changes.

  • "Me *to notify* her of any changes" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to notify* her of any changes).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a system to notify all employees.

  We need a system to notify all employees.

  • "*To notify* all employees" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a system *to notify* all employees).

Notifying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Notifying customers is part of my job.

  Notifying customers is part of my job.

  • "*Notifying* customers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (part of my job).
• 2. Object

  We appreciate notifying us in advance.

  We appreciate notifying us in advance.

  • "*Notifying* us in advance" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (*notifying* us in advance).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She is responsible for notifying the authorities.

  She is responsible for notifying the authorities.

  • "For *notifying* the authorities" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (is) + noun phrase (responsible for *notifying* the authorities).

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

• agree
• plan
• hope
• want
• decide

Example

They agreed to notify all stakeholders about the decision.

We plan to notify everyone by email.

She hopes to notify the winners by the end of the day.

He wants to notify the team about the upcoming meeting.

They decided to notify the customers about the product recall.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• mind
• imagine

Example

They avoid notifying customers of price changes.

I recommend notifying the supervisor before taking time off.

We are considering notifying the public about the safety concerns.

Do you mind notifying me if there are any updates?

Can you imagine notifying all the participants about the schedule change?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He would like to notify everyone personally. He would like notifying everyone personally.

She started to notify the team members about the meeting. She started notifying the team members about the meeting.

They began to notify the clients about the new service. They began notifying the clients about the new service.