To Offload vs Offloading 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 offload (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to offload some of my responsibilities onto my colleague.

Offloading (Gerund)

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

Example

Offloading can help reduce stress and improve productivity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To offload (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To offload is a common practice in the shipping industry.

  To offload is a common practice in the shipping industry.

  • "*To offload*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in the shipping industry).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to offload the heavy boxes.

  She wants me to offload the heavy boxes.

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

  We need a truck to offload the furniture.

  We need a truck to offload the furniture.

  • "*To offload* the furniture" modifies the noun "truck."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a truck *to offload* the furniture).

Offloading (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Offloading is a smart strategy for delegating tasks.

  Offloading is a smart strategy for delegating tasks.

  • "*Offloading*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a smart strategy for delegating tasks).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy offloading my responsibilities onto others.

  I enjoy offloading my responsibilities onto others.

  • "*Offloading* my responsibilities onto others" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*offloading* my responsibilities onto others).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for offloading work onto her team members.

  She has a knack for offloading work onto her team members.

  • "For *offloading* work onto her team members" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *offloading* work onto her team members).

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 offload the cargo at the port tomorrow.

I hope to offload some of my workload next week.

He wants to offload the task to someone else.

We decided to offload the project onto a different team.

They agreed to offload the inventory before the end of the month.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

He enjoys offloading tasks to his assistant.

Experts recommend offloading non-essential duties to focus on core responsibilities.

She avoids offloading important tasks to inexperienced team members.

We are considering offloading the project to an external vendor.

Can you imagine offloading your workload and enjoying more free time?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to offload some of my work onto a virtual assistant. I would like offloading some of my work onto a virtual assistant.

They started to offload the excess inventory. They started offloading the excess inventory.

He began to offload his responsibilities onto his team members. He began offloading his responsibilities onto his team members.