To Overhear vs Overhearing 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 overhear (Infinitive)

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

Example

I hope to overhear some interesting conversations at the party.

Overhearing (Gerund)

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

Example

Overhearing their conversation made me realize they were planning a surprise party.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To overhear (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To overhear is considered rude in most situations.

  To overhear is considered rude in most situations.

  • "*To overhear*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (considered rude).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to overhear their private conversation.

  She wants me to overhear their private conversation.

  • "Me *to overhear* their private conversation" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to overhear* their private conversation).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a quiet room to overhear any important information.

  I need a quiet room to overhear any important information.

  • "*To overhear* any important information" modifies the noun "room."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a quiet room *to overhear* any important information).

Overhearing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Overhearing can lead to unintentional eavesdropping.

  Overhearing can lead to unintentional eavesdropping.

  • "*Overhearing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can lead to) + noun phrase (unintentional eavesdropping).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy overhearing snippets of conversations in coffee shops.

  I enjoy overhearing snippets of conversations in coffee shops.

  • "*Overhearing* snippets of conversations in coffee shops" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*overhearing* snippets of conversations in coffee shops).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She admitted to overhearing their private conversation.

  She admitted to overhearing their private conversation.

  • "*Overhearing* their private conversation" is the object of the preposition "to."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (admitted to) + gerund (*overhearing* their private conversation).

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
• refuse
• pretend
• learn
• struggle

Example

He plans to overhear their conversation by sitting close to them.

They refused to overhear any more gossip about their friends.

She pretended not to overhear their argument.

We learned to overhear whispers from the next room.

He struggled to overhear the secret code.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• postpone

Example

He avoids overhearing personal conversations in public places.

They considered overhearing as a breach of privacy.

I recommend overhearing important discussions for better understanding.

Do you mind overhearing their phone conversation?

She postponed overhearing their conversation until later.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I would like to overhear their conversation. I would like overhearing their conversation.

He began to overhear their phone calls. He began overhearing their phone calls.

They continue to overhear snippets of interesting conversations. They continue overhearing snippets of interesting conversations.