To Optimise vs Optimising 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 optimise (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to optimise my website for better search engine rankings.

Optimising (Gerund)

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

Example

Optimising your time management skills can lead to increased productivity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To optimise (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To optimise is essential for improving efficiency.

  To optimise is essential for improving efficiency.

  • "*To optimise*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (essential for improving efficiency).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to optimise her business strategy.

  She wants me to optimise her business strategy.

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

  I need a tool to optimise my workflow.

  I need a tool to optimise my workflow.

  • "*To optimise* my workflow" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a tool *to optimise* my workflow).

Optimising (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Optimising is crucial for success in any field.

  Optimising is crucial for success in any field.

  • "*Optimising*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (crucial for success in any field).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy optimising my website for better performance.

  I enjoy optimising my website for better performance.

  • "*Optimising* my website for better performance" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*optimising* my website for better performance).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for optimising business operations.

  She has a passion for optimising business operations.

  • "For *optimising* business operations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *optimising* business operations).

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

She plans to optimise her website next week.

They hope to optimise their social media presence soon.

He wants to optimise his marketing strategy.

We decided to optimise our production process.

They agreed to optimise their customer service approach.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys optimising her social media posts for engagement.

They recommend regularly optimising your website for SEO.

I dislike the idea of optimising my schedule to the minute.

He avoids optimising his expenses by cutting corners.

Can you imagine yourself optimising your business processes?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to optimise her workflow. She likes optimising her workflow.

We started to optimise our production line. We started optimising our production line.

He began to optimise his website's user experience. He began optimising his website's user experience.