When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To optimize (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to optimize" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
I want to optimize my website for better search engine rankings.
Optimizing (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "optimizing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Optimizing your time management skills can lead to increased productivity.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To optimize (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To optimize is crucial for online businesses.
To optimize is crucial for online businesses.
- "*To optimize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (crucial) + prepositional phrase (for online businesses).
- 2Object
He asked me to optimize the performance of the software.
He asked me to optimize the performance of the software.
- "Me *to optimize* the performance of the software" is the object of the verb "asked."
- Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to optimize* the performance of the software).
- 3Adverbial Modifier
We need a strategy to optimize our resources effectively.
We need a strategy to optimize our resources effectively.
- "*To optimize* our resources effectively" modifies the noun "strategy."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to optimize* our resources effectively).
Optimizing (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Optimizing your website improves its performance.
Optimizing your website improves its performance.
- "*Optimizing* your website" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + possessive pronoun (your) + noun (website) + verb (improves) + noun phrase (its performance).
- 2Object
I enjoy optimizing the efficiency of business operations.
I enjoy optimizing the efficiency of business operations.
- "*Optimizing* the efficiency of business operations" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*optimizing* the efficiency of business operations).
- 3Object of Preposition
They are experts in the field of optimizing digital marketing strategies.
They are experts in the field of optimizing digital marketing strategies.
- "In the field of *optimizing* digital marketing strategies" is the object of the preposition "in."
- Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (experts in the field of *optimizing* digital marketing strategies).
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
Example
They plan to optimize their marketing campaigns next month.
She hopes to optimize her website's loading speed.
He wants to optimize the user experience of his app.
We decided to optimize our supply chain management.
They agreed to optimize their production processes together.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys optimizing websites for better user experience.
They recommend regularly optimizing computer systems for optimal performance.
I dislike the process of optimizing data analysis techniques.
He avoids optimizing his email inbox by using filters.
Can you imagine yourself optimizing your daily routine for maximum productivity?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to optimize her business strategies. She likes optimizing her business strategies.
We started to optimize our website's SEO. We started optimizing our website's SEO.
He began to optimize his time management skills. He began optimizing his time management skills.
