To Pave vs Paving 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 pave (Infinitive)

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

Example

The construction company plans to pave the road next week.

Paving (Gerund)

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

Example

Paving roads requires skilled workers.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To pave (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To pave the driveway is a big project.

  To pave the driveway is a big project.

  • "*To pave* the driveway" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a big project).
• 2. Object

  She wants us to pave the parking lot.

  She wants us to pave the parking lot.

  • "Us *to pave* the parking lot" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (us *to pave* the parking lot).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a smooth surface to pave the road.

  We need a smooth surface to pave the road.

  • "*To pave* the road" modifies the noun "surface."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a smooth surface *to pave* the road).

Paving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Paving the driveway is a time-consuming task.

  Paving the driveway is a time-consuming task.

  • "*Paving* the driveway" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a time-consuming task).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy paving the walkway with bricks.

  I enjoy paving the walkway with bricks.

  • "*Paving* the walkway with bricks" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*paving* the walkway with bricks).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has experience in paving roads.

  He has experience in paving roads.

  • "In *paving* roads" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *paving* roads).

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
• decide
• refuse
• demand
• attempt

Example

They plan to pave the sidewalk next month.

He decided to pave the driveway himself.

She refused to pave the backyard patio.

The residents demand the city to pave the streets.

We attempted to pave the highway in record time.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• resist

Example

They recommend hiring professionals for paving the parking lot.

We should avoid paving during rainy weather.

I am considering paving the backyard with concrete.

Do you mind paving the driveway with asphalt?

She resisted the idea of paving the road with cobblestones.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He would like to pave the sidewalk with colorful tiles. He would like paving the sidewalk with colorful tiles.

They started to pave the street last week. They started paving the street last week.

We began to pave the parking lot early in the morning. We began paving the parking lot early in the morning.