To Pause vs Pausing 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 pause (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to pause the video to take a break.

Pausing (Gerund)

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

Example

Pausing allows you to control the pace of the conversation.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To pause (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To pause is a common feature in video players.

  To pause is a common feature in video players.

  • "*To pause*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common feature in video players).
• 2. Object

  He asked me to pause the movie.

  He asked me to pause the movie.

  • "Me *to pause* the movie" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to pause* the movie).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  She needs a remote to pause the television.

  She needs a remote to pause the television.

  • "*To pause* the television" modifies the noun "remote."
  • Noun (She) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a remote *to pause* the television).

Pausing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Pausing is an effective public speaking technique.

  Pausing is an effective public speaking technique.

  • "*Pausing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an effective public speaking technique).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy pausing during my yoga practice.

  I enjoy pausing during my yoga practice.

  • "*Pausing* during my yoga practice" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*pausing* during my yoga practice).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of pausing before answering questions.

  She has a habit of pausing before answering questions.

  • "Of *pausing* before answering questions" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *pausing* before answering questions).

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

We plan to pause the game for a few minutes.

They hope to pause the concert for an intermission.

He wants to pause the presentation to answer questions.

She decided to pause the music for a moment of silence.

They agreed to pause the meeting for a coffee break.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys pausing to reflect on his thoughts.

They recommend pausing for a moment of mindfulness.

I dislike the idea of pausing the movie midway.

She avoids pausing during important conversations.

Can you imagine pausing during a high-speed race?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to pause the music when she needs a break. She likes pausing the music when she needs a break.

We started to pause the movie to discuss a scene. We started pausing the movie to discuss a scene.

He began to pause during his speeches for emphasis. He began pausing during his speeches for emphasis.