To Patrol vs Patrolling 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 patrol (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to patrol the neighborhood to ensure safety.

Patrolling (Gerund)

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

Example

Patrolling the streets helps maintain law and order.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To patrol (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To patrol is an important duty of a security guard.

  To patrol is an important duty of a security guard.

  • "*To patrol*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important duty of a security guard).
• 2. Object

  He asked me to patrol the premises at night.

  He asked me to patrol the premises at night.

  • "Me *to patrol* the premises at night" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to patrol* the premises at night).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a vehicle to patrol the vast area.

  We need a vehicle to patrol the vast area.

  • "*To patrol* the vast area" modifies the noun "vehicle."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a vehicle *to patrol* the vast area).

Patrolling (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Patrolling is a crucial task for police officers.

  Patrolling is a crucial task for police officers.

  • "*Patrolling*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crucial task for police officers).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy patrolling the area on my bike.

  I enjoy patrolling the area on my bike.

  • "*Patrolling* the area on my bike" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*patrolling* the area on my bike).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has experience in patrolling high-crime neighborhoods.

  She has experience in patrolling high-crime neighborhoods.

  • "In *patrolling* high-crime neighborhoods" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *patrolling* high-crime neighborhoods).

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
• want
• decide
• refuse
• attempt

Example

They plan to patrol the streets during the night shift.

She wants to patrol the park for any suspicious activity.

He decided to patrol the building perimeter for added security.

They refused to patrol the dangerous area due to safety concerns.

We attempted to patrol the entire neighborhood in one night.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• delay
• imagine

Example

They enjoy patrolling the beachfront on their ATVs.

I recommend regular patrolling of the premises for security purposes.

He avoids patrolling alone at night.

We delayed patrolling the area until backup arrived.

Can you imagine yourself patrolling the city streets as a police officer?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to patrol the neighborhood at night. She likes patrolling the neighborhood at night.

We started to patrol the area after sunset. We started patrolling the area after sunset.

He began to patrol the park every evening. He began patrolling the park every evening.