To Outreach vs Outreaching 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 outreach (Infinitive)

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

Example

Our organization plans to outreach to underprivileged communities.

Outreaching (Gerund)

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

Example

Outreaching is an effective way to spread awareness.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To outreach (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To outreach is an important part of our mission.

  To outreach is an important part of our mission.

  • "*To outreach*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of our mission).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to outreach to potential donors.

  She wants me to outreach to potential donors.

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

  We need a team to outreach to local businesses.

  We need a team to outreach to local businesses.

  • "*To outreach* to local businesses" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a team *to outreach* to local businesses).

Outreaching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Outreaching has helped us reach a wider audience.

  Outreaching has helped us reach a wider audience.

  • "*Outreaching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (has helped) + noun phrase (us reach a wider audience).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy outreaching to different communities.

  I enjoy outreaching to different communities.

  • "*Outreaching* to different communities" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*outreaching* to different communities).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are committed to the cause of outreaching.

  They are committed to the cause of outreaching.

  • "The cause of *outreaching*" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are committed) + noun phrase (the cause of *outreaching*).

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 outreach to schools in the area next month.

I hope to outreach to new volunteers for our project.

He wants to outreach to marginalized communities.

We decided to outreach to senior citizens in the community.

They agreed to outreach to homeless individuals.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

She enjoys outreaching to students in need.

We recommend regular outreaching for community engagement.

He avoids outreaching to uninterested individuals.

Can you imagine yourself outreaching to global audiences?

They are considering outreaching to international partners.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

We would like to outreach to local businesses. We would like outreaching to local businesses.

She started to outreach to disadvantaged youth. She started outreaching to disadvantaged youth.

He began to outreach to vulnerable populations. He began outreaching to vulnerable populations.