To Permit vs Permitting 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 permit (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to permit you to join the club.

Permitting (Gerund)

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

Example

Permitting pets in the office can boost employee morale.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To permit (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To permit is a decision that needs careful consideration.

  To permit is a decision that needs careful consideration.

  • "*To permit*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a decision that needs careful consideration).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to permit her to use my car.

  She wants me to permit her to use my car.

  • "Me *to permit* her to use my car" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to permit* her to use my car).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a valid license to permit driving in this country.

  I need a valid license to permit driving in this country.

  • "*To permit* driving in this country" modifies the noun "license."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a valid license *to permit* driving in this country).

Permitting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Permitting smoking is not allowed in this area.

  Permitting smoking is not allowed in this area.

  • "*Permitting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not allowed in this area).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy permitting others to express their opinions freely.

  I enjoy permitting others to express their opinions freely.

  • "*Permitting* others to express their opinions freely" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*permitting* others to express their opinions freely).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for permitting creativity in her team.

  She has a passion for permitting creativity in her team.

  • "For *permitting* creativity in her team" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *permitting* creativity in her team).

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

She plans to permit camping in the park next month.

They hope to permit dogs in the apartment building.

He wants to permit outdoor seating at the restaurant.

We decided to permit late submissions for the assignment.

They agreed to permit flexible working hours.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys permitting flexible work arrangements.

They recommend permitting personalization of workspaces.

I dislike the idea of permitting unauthorized access.

He avoids permitting conflicts in the workplace.

Can you imagine permitting unlimited vacation days?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to permit guests to bring their own food. She likes permitting guests to bring their own food.

We started to permit remote work options. We started permitting remote work options.

He began to permit overnight stays at the hotel. He began permitting overnight stays at the hotel.