To Peruse vs Perusing 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 peruse (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to peruse the book to gather information.

Perusing (Gerund)

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

Example

Perusing is a habit that can enhance your knowledge.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To peruse (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To peruse is a good way to understand the content of the article.

  To peruse is a good way to understand the content of the article.

  • "*To peruse*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a good way to understand the content of the article).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to peruse the documents before the meeting.

  She wants me to peruse the documents before the meeting.

  • "Me *to peruse* the documents before the meeting" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to peruse* the documents before the meeting).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a quiet place to peruse the newspaper.

  I need a quiet place to peruse the newspaper.

  • "*To peruse* the newspaper" modifies the noun "place."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a quiet place *to peruse* the newspaper).

Perusing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Perusing helps in improving vocabulary.

  Perusing helps in improving vocabulary.

  • "*Perusing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (in improving vocabulary).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy perusing different genres of books.

  I enjoy perusing different genres of books.

  • "*Perusing* different genres of books" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*perusing* different genres of books).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a passion for perusing scientific journals.

  He has a passion for perusing scientific journals.

  • "For *perusing* scientific journals" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *perusing* scientific journals).

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

• hope
• decide
• want
• attempt
• choose

Example

They hope to peruse the report before the meeting.

We decided to peruse the books before making a decision.

He wants to peruse the documents thoroughly.

She attempted to peruse the manual for instructions.

I chose to peruse the website for research purposes.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

She enjoys perusing articles on various topics.

They recommend perusing the library catalog for new books.

I avoid perusing social media when I need to focus.

He is considering perusing the research papers for his project.

Can you imagine yourself perusing ancient manuscripts?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to peruse magazines in her free time. She likes perusing magazines in her free time.

We started to peruse the online forums for information. We started perusing the online forums for information.

He began to peruse the newspaper every morning. He began perusing the newspaper every morning.