To Participate vs Participating 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 participate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to participate in the marathon to challenge myself.

Participating (Gerund)

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

Example

Participating in team sports can improve social skills.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To participate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To participate is important for a successful event.

  To participate is important for a successful event.

  • "*To participate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for a successful event).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to participate in the competition.

  She wants me to participate in the competition.

  • "Me *to participate* in the competition" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to participate* in the competition).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a team to participate in the tournament.

  We need a team to participate in the tournament.

  • "*To participate* in the tournament" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a team *to participate* in the tournament).

Participating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Participating in extracurricular activities is beneficial for students.

  Participating in extracurricular activities is beneficial for students.

  • "*Participating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (beneficial for students).
• 2. Object

  They enjoy participating in community service projects.

  They enjoy participating in community service projects.

  • "*Participating* in community service projects" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (They) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*participating* in community service projects).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  I have a passion for participating in debates.

  I have a passion for participating in debates.

  • "For *participating* in debates" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a passion for *participating* in debates).

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 participate in the charity run next month.

I hope to participate in the workshop.

He wants to participate in the talent show.

She decided to participate in the dance competition.

We agreed to participate in the group project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys participating in team building activities.

They recommend regular participating in volunteer programs.

He dislikes the idea of participating in public speaking events.

We avoid participating in activities that cause stress.

Can you imagine yourself participating in a cooking competition?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to participate in group discussions. They like participating in group discussions.

I started to participate in online classes. I started participating in online classes.

She began to participate in art workshops. She began participating in art workshops.