To Pend vs Pending 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 pend (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to pend my decision until I have more information.

Pending (Gerund)

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

Example

Pending approval, the project will move forward.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To pend (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To pend is a common practice in legal proceedings.

  To pend is a common practice in legal proceedings.

  • "*To pend*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in legal proceedings).
• 2. Object

  They want us to pend the project indefinitely.

  They want us to pend the project indefinitely.

  • "Us *to pend* the project indefinitely" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to pend* the project indefinitely).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a clear deadline to pend his actions.

  He needs a clear deadline to pend his actions.

  • "*To pend* his actions" modifies the noun "deadline."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a clear deadline *to pend* his actions).

Pending (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Pending is a term commonly used in legal documents.

  Pending is a term commonly used in legal documents.

  • "*Pending*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a term commonly used in legal documents).
• 2. Object

  We need clarification on the pending tasks.

  We need clarification on the pending tasks.

  • "Clarification on the *pending* tasks" is the object of the verb "need."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (clarification on the *pending* tasks).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has concerns about the project pending completion.

  She has concerns about the project pending completion.

  • "About the project *pending* completion" is the object of the preposition "about."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (concerns about the project *pending* completion).

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

• decide
• refuse
• demand
• determine
• learn

Example

We decided to pend the finalization of the contract.

She refuses to pend any further discussions.

The customer demands us to pend the shipment until next week.

They determined to pend the decision until all options were considered.

I learned to pend judgment until I had all the facts.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• consider
• postpone
• deny
• imagine
• avoid

Example

They are considering pending the decision until next month.

He decided to postpone pending further analysis.

The court denied the request pending further evidence.

Can you imagine the outcome pending the investigation?

We should avoid any actions pending legal advice.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to pend the release of the product. She plans pending the approval from the regulatory authorities.

They hope to pend the decision until the market conditions improve. They hope pending the completion of the feasibility study.

He wants to pend the project until the budget is approved. He wants pending the client's confirmation.

We decided to pend the implementation of the new policy. We decided pending the outcome of the meeting.

They agreed to pend the discussion until the next meeting. They agreed pending further information.