To Personalize vs Personalizing 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 personalize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to personalize my phone with a custom wallpaper.

Personalizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Personalizing your workspace can boost your mood.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To personalize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To personalize your workspace is important for productivity.

  To personalize your workspace is important for productivity.

  • "*To personalize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for productivity).
• 2. Object

  She asked me to personalize her birthday cake.

  She asked me to personalize her birthday cake.

  • "Me *to personalize* her birthday cake" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to personalize* her birthday cake).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a special pen to personalize my journal.

  I need a special pen to personalize my journal.

  • "*To personalize* my journal" modifies the noun "pen."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a special pen *to personalize* my journal).

Personalizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Personalizing your belongings is a way to express yourself.

  Personalizing your belongings is a way to express yourself.

  • "*Personalizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a way to express yourself).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy personalizing my home decor.

  I enjoy personalizing my home decor.

  • "*Personalizing* my home decor" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*personalizing* my home decor).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for personalizing gifts.

  She has a talent for personalizing gifts.

  • "For *personalizing* gifts" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *personalizing* gifts).

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

• choose
• offer
• refuse
• attempt
• manage

Example

She chose to personalize her laptop with stickers.

The store offers a service to personalize your items.

He refused to personalize his uniform with a name patch.

They attempted to personalize their wedding invitations by hand.

We managed to personalize our gifts for each person.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• suggest
• consider
• recommend
• avoid

Example

He enjoys personalizing his computer setup.

They suggest personalizing your workspace with photos and plants.

I am considering personalizing my phone case.

She recommends personalizing your email signature.

He avoids personalizing company property without permission.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I like to personalize my stationery. I like personalizing my stationery.

They began to personalize their website design. They began personalizing their website design.

She continues to personalize her clothing style. She continues personalizing her clothing style.